Star-studded Indian archery team selected for 2016 South Asian Games

New Delhi: The Archery Association of India on Thursday today announced a 16-member team, including international stars Deepika Kumari, Bombayla Laishram, Jayanta Talukdar and Tarundeep Rai for the 2016 South Asian Games.

Talukdar and Rai will be joined by Binod Swansi and Gurucharan Besra in the men's Recurve team event, while Madhu Vedwan and Laxmirani Majhi have been selected to partner Kumari and Laishram in the corresponding women's event.

The Compound events will also hosts of internation stars with Rajat Chauhan, Abhishek Verma, Manash Jyoti Changmai and C Srither competing in the team category.The women's Compound team has P Lily Chanu, V Jyothi Surekha, Swati Dudhwal and Purvasha Sudhir Shende.

Two-day selection trials in Shillong concluded yesterday, and the final list was released by AAI assistant secretary Gunjan Abrol.

After much delay, the 12th edition of the Games will be held in the Indian north-eastern cities of Guwahati and Shillong February 5 to 16. A total of 2,672 athletes are expected to compete in 228 events over 23 sports.

The Games were originally scheduled to be held in 2012 in Delhi.

Archery events at the South Asian Games is scheduled to be held at the historic Shillong Polo Ground from February 2 to 9.