Meet Deepika Kumari: The Archery Prodigy
Deepika Kumari is a true inspiration for all those who want to pursue their dreams despite the challenges that life throws at them. Born on June 13, 1994, in the small village of RatuChatti in the Ranchi district of Jharkhand, India, Deepika faced financial hardships from the beginning. Her father Shivnarayan Mahato was an auto-rickshaw driver, while her mother Geeta Mahato worked as a nurse in the local hospital.
Passion for Archery
Despite the lack of financial resources, Deepika’s passion for archery was evident from a very early age. She started practicing by shooting at mangoes with stones and made her own bows and arrows using bamboo.
Professional Training
In 2005, Deepika joined the Arjun Archery Academy in Kharasawan to receive professional training. Later, in 2006, she was able to sign up for the Tata Archery Academy with the help of her cousin, who was also an archer. At the Tata Archery Academy, Deepika was able to practice with proper equipment and uniform, and she received a remuneration of 500 Rupees per month.
Successes and Setbacks
Deepika’s talent and hard work soon paid off, and she made a name for herself in the world of archery. At the age of 15, she won the 2009 World Archery Championship held in Utah, USA, and also won a gold medal in the women’s recurve team event. In 2010, she won two gold medals at the Delhi Commonwealth Games, one in the individual category and one in the women’s recurve team event. She won her first gold medal at the Archery World Cup in 2012.
However, Deepika also faced her fair share of disappointments and setbacks. She recorded her lowest performance at the 2012 London Olympics, where she lost in the opening round to Amy Oliver of Great Britain. In the 2013 FITA Archery World Cup, she lost the gold and settled for silver after being defeated by South Korean player Yon Ok-Hee, making it her third time to lose in the World Cup final.
Continued Hard Work and Achievements
But Deepika never gave up and continued to work hard to improve her game. In April 2016, she even eclipsed the world record of Ki Bo-bae’s women’s recurve event with a score of 686/720. She played a crucial role for the Indian women’s recurve team during the Rio Olympics 2016 and won three gold medals at the Archery World Cup stage 3, becoming the 11th archer and 13th triple gold achiever.
Despite her impressive track record, Deepika had an underwhelming run at the Tokyo Olympics 2020, where she lost to S An of South Korea 6-0 in the Archery Women’s Individual Quarterfinals. Nevertheless, her achievements have not gone unnoticed, and she has received several awards for her outstanding performance in archery, including the Arjuna Award in 2012 and the Padma Shri in 2015.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Deepika Kumari’s journey from a small village in Jharkhand to becoming one of the most successful archers in the world is truly inspiring. Despite facing financial hardships and setbacks, she never gave up and continued to work hard to achieve her dreams. Her dedication, determination, and passion for archery are truly remarkable and have earned her several accolades and awards.Deepika’s story serves as a reminder that with the right mindset, training, and support, anyone can overcome their obstacles and achieve greatness. She is not just a role model for aspiring archers but for anyone who wants to pursue their dreams and make a difference in their life.As we continue to follow Deepika’s journey, we can’t wait to see what the future holds for this talented athlete. We wish her all the best in her future endeavors and hope she continues to inspire generations to come.
