TN archer Vhenisa makes waves

CHENNAI: At 11, compound archer Vhenisa Sree could become the youngest to compete in the upcoming National Games in Uttarakhand. The Tamil Nadu archer qualified for the event by reaching the quarterfinals of the recent National Championships in Jharkhand. Vhenisa finished seventh in the qualification stage (695), a spot ahead of reigning world champion Aditi Gopichand Swami.

After taking up archery at the age of six, Vhenisa transitioned to the seniors quickly, taking part in competitions from the age of nine.

“She follows her schedule, and we train her in such a way that she enjoys it. We do match simulations during training, and this helps her perform without any pressure in competitions. We try to get in with a lot of people and set up commentary panel to get the feel of the competition,” Vhenisa’s coach Joyal Ezekiel told TOI.

According to Ezekiel, what sets Vhenisa apart is not her innate talent, but her dedication to train for long hours. He explained that while it took her some time to adapt, her commitment to understanding her mistakes and correcting them, has been key to her progress.

“Initially like several others, Vhenisa could not adapt quickly. Then I used to talk with her and make her understand where she was going wrong. So, slowly she started picking up the pace and automatically understood what mistake she was making,” Ezekiel, who is NIS certified coach, added.

The ultimate goal for Vhenisa is to become a world champion before she turns 14, and her qualification for the competitions like the National Games and National Championships is just a step towards the lofty target.

While guiding Vhenisa, the 26-year-old Ezekiel is simultaneously pursuing his own playing career in compound archery. Facing financial difficulties, he was forced to begin coaching to support himself. Despite these challenges, he remains passionate and is determined to succeed as a player. “I started taking archery and silambam classes during my college days as I could not pay my fees. After my bachelors, I took up full-time coaching and went to NIS Aurangabad to get more knowledge on the sport.

In one of the state championships, Vhenisa and Ezekiel combined to win a medal in the mixed event. “I do not get much time to train but I will continue to work hard and try to compete in the nationals. Vhenisa and I can go on to represent Tamil Nadu at the nationals together in the future,” Ezekiel said.