Economic crisis pummels Venezuelan sport, hinders Olympics athletes

Venezuelan Olympic team archer Elias Malave aims his arrow during a training session in Maracay, in the state of Aragua, Venezuela June 6, 2016. REUTERS/Marco Bello

MARACAY, Venezuela (Reuters) - Every morning, Venezuelan archer Elias Malave picks up his old bow, attaches a handful of well-worn arrows to his belt and trains for five hours on an empty field, without a coach.

It could be any amateur sportsman's routine. But Malave, 26, is a multiple national champion and one of Venezuela's first athletes to classify for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.