Indian archers need psychologist: Jayanta Talukdar

The much-hyped Indian archers were not mentally tough to handle the Olympics pressure and they badly need the services of a sports psychologist to get their confidence back, Jayanta Talukdar said on Tuesday.

All the Indian archers, including Talukdar and big medal hope Deepika Kumari, had fizzled out at the early stage of the competition in London.

Talukdar, who lost to American Jacob Wukie in the men's individual elimination in the opening round, said they were unable to handle the crowd pressure and the unpredictable wind conditions.

He also said that Deepika and other archers could not regain their rhythm after suffering from the viral fever soon after reaching London on July 17.

"London Olympics was the first one for both Deepika and me and the experience we gained there was that sportspersons have to be mentally prepared and should have a high confidence level to win a medal," he told newsmen in Jamshedpur after Tata Steel felicitated him and Deepika on returning from London.

"We need a psychologist and a physiotherapist urgently to enhance our confidence as well as mental toughness to face the level of competition in Olympics."

22-year-old Talukdar, who was the first archer to qualify for the London Olympics, said he had to browse the Internet to seek tips of psychologists, which he applied to enhance his confidence level.

Talukdar said he will be focusing on the next Olympics from now and strive to address all shortfalls.