India takes 2 as 6 Youth Olympic Games places awarded at Asian qualifier

India secured a full quota of two – one boy and one girl – to the Buenos Aires 2018 Youth Olympic Games, as DPR Korea and IR Iran (girls), and Thailand and Kazakhstan (boys) also picked up places at the Asian continental qualifier.

The tournament was held during the 2017 Asian Archery Championships in Dhaka, Bangladesh.

“I’m feeling very happy because we’ve qualified for the Youth Olympics,” said Bommadevara Dhiraj, whose silver medal in the boys qualifying event behind teammate Akash helped secure India a place.

“Qualification is really important because India has only won one medal at the Olympics, a bronze. So we want to become champion.”

Diraj was referring to the bronze medal that Atul Verma collected at the 2014 edition of the Youth Games in Nanjing, and then added:

“If I’m selected to go to Buenos Aires, I’ll definitely become champion for my country.”

With the Asian continental qualification tournament complete, the remaining quota places for the upcoming Youth Olympic Games will be available at events in Europe, Americas, Africa and Oceania, plus via tripartite and host nation invitation.

The Asian continental qualifying tournament for the Buenos Aires 2018 Youth Olympic Games took place as part of the 2017 Asian Archery Championships from 25 to 30 November in Dhaka, Bangladesh.