Using meditation, archer Verma aims for a repeat at Khelo

Vinayak Verma of Punjab, recurve gold medallist in the boys Under-17 event at the Delhi Khelo India School Games last year, is determined to turn in a repeat performance in Pune.

The 15-year-old was also the team silver medallist at the 3rd Asian Championship in Dhaka, Bangladesh.

He will again compete in the U-17 recurve event, which is one of eight gold medals on the line in the archery competition at these Games, that will be hosted at the Army Sports Institute here.

In all,128 archers will compete in the boys and girls Under 17 and 21 individual recurve and compound event.

"Archery is a concentration sport, we have to forget the score of every arrow we have hit and get ready for the next one. On a daily basis, I do meditation that helps in focusing during the game," Verma was quoted as saying in the release.

Meanwhile,Haryana's Akash Malik, who represented India at the Youth Olympics and also won a bronze medal at the Delhi Khelo India School Games, is likely to be Verma's toughest competitor.

Paras Hooda, another archer from Haryana who won silver along with Vinayak in Dhaka, will be another medal prospect.