Deepika Kumari finds herself torn between two worlds. One world is where she longs to be with her 19-month-old daughter, Vedika. The other is where she craves an Olympic medal. Her resilience in balancing these two aspects of her life has taken her to the Paris Games, the fourth Olympics of her career. Deepika’s determination to achieve glory in the Olympic 2024 Match is evident. She stayed away from her daughter for two months to prepare for the competition.
The Pain of Separation
“It’s difficult to explain the pain of being away from my daughter. But it’s also about achieving what we have worked for over so many years,” Deepika told PTI in an exclusive interview.
Her husband, Atanu Das, also an international archer, took Vedika to the Army Sports Institute in Pune just before Deepika left for Paris. It was an emotional moment for Deepika.
“I miss her a lot, but that’s how it is. Thankfully, she has been really supportive and has adapted well with my in-laws and Atanu,” added Deepika.
The Struggles Post-Delivery
Deepika faced physical challenges immediately after giving birth to her daughter in December 2022. She developed muscle stiffness, making it almost impossible to lift the 19-kg bow.
“We had planned for the delivery in such a way that we would be able to compete in Paris. But it was like starting from zero after the delivery,” Atanu recalled.
“Forget about shooting or lifting the bow, she was not able to do even simple daily chores,” he added.
Gradually, Deepika started jogging and worked hard at the gym to get back in shape. She even thought her career might be over.
“Career lagta hai khatam ho gaya, kya main aur shooting nahin kar paoongi? (It seems my career is over…Won’t I be able to shoot again?)” she would ask Atanu.
A Flicker of Hope
Deepika’s hard work paid off when she dominated the National Games in Goa last year, winning two gold and one silver medal. This success led her to train under the legendary Korean coach Kim Hyung-Tak, who guided her to a silver at the Shanghai World Cup, her first podium finish in two years.
“It was not just about the skill aspect but his guidance also plays a part in bringing clarity to shooting. It really set me off,” said Deepika.
The Challenge Ahead
Despite her phenomenal feats in other world meets, Deepika is yet to win an Olympic medal. She came close in Tokyo but lost to the eventual gold winner An San in the quarterfinals. This time, she faces the challenge of competing against 21-year-old South Korean Lim Si-hyeon, who has defeated Deepika twice this year.
“I cannot change the past. I’m fully prepared and happy with the way I’m shooting. We will see what happens on the match day if at all we have a match-up,” she added.
Happy Memories in Paris
Paris has been a happy-hunting ground for Deepika. She won a hat-trick of gold medals in the 2021 World Cup in individual, team, and mixed team events along with Atanu. She also clinched a World Cup Final silver in 2013 and a World Cup silver last year in the French capital.
However, Deepika wants to treat the Olympics as any other top-level competition.
“I don’t understand why there is so much hype surrounding the Olympic 2024 Match in our country. Everyone looks up to archery once the Olympics nears and it creates unnecessary pressure. We have to take it like any other competition. The pressure (on the Indians) is more mental,” she said.
Deepika and Dhiraj: A Strong Duo
Deepika might team up with Dhiraj Bommadevara in the mixed team event. Dhiraj has been in phenomenal form, winning 10 international medals in the last 12 months, including a team gold against Korea and an individual bronze at the Antalya World Cup.
“He is young and uber cool and an individual medal prospect. He doesn’t falter in big moments,” said India’s high-performance director Sanjeeva Singh.
Deepika remembers the controversy in Tokyo when she had to unwillingly partner with Pravin Jadhav in the mixed team event. The national federation could have changed the combination, but they went by the rule, and the team exited in the last eight.
“I don’t want to talk about what happened. Dhiraj has been shooting well and we hope for the best,” Deepika added.
A Message from Atanu
Will she miss Atanu’s presence in Paris? “He has a greater responsibility — to take care of Vedika,” she smiled, clutching an empty bag, a gift from her husband.
“I’ve told her she must win the medal and bring it back in this bag,” said Atanu.
Perhaps, Deepika can cram an Olympic medal and some baby clothes and toys into that bag. Stay updated with the latest Olympic 2024 Match from IPL365.
