by Andrew Boocock

Pressure in sport is what separates men from boys and no more so than when competing to qualify for your first ever Olympic games.

This is the task that awaits Alan Wills, a former joiner from Cumbria, who has his sights set firmly on Beijing.

Wills, 26, is currently ranked third in the world and has two more qualifying rounds to go before discovering if he will be on a plane to China come August, after the GB Team secured its quota of places earlier this year.

Yet having taken the archery world by storm last year, winning bronze at the World Cup final in Dubai, it has not been all plain sailing for the former carpenter.

If the right team is sent there is no reason why we can't come away with a team medal Alan Wills

"I've had a bit of a slow start to the season and the end of last season was not too good either," he told BBC Radio Newcastle.

"There is a lot of pressure and I think the expectation of other people put on you is hard."

Wills first picked up a bow in his early teens under the guidance of mentor Alf Davies and through hard work and hours of training, has developed into one of Britain's leading contenders for medal success if he secures a place on the team.

"If the right team is sent there is no reason why we can't come away with a team medal and individually, if everything goes well and my condition is good, I will do the same," he said.

Archery pundits have labelled Wills the 'most dangerous man in archery' after he shocked Italian Michele Frangilli during the World Cup Grand Final in Dubai last November.

The Great Britain hopeful now goes into the final qualifying rounds with rejuvenated confidence and after learning his lessons from the previous three or four months is all set to reach his Olympic target.