Deepika Kumari Shines Again at World Cup
Deepika Kumari, India’s top archer, won her 18th individual World Cup medal recently in Shanghai. She showed great skill and determination despite tough competition. Although she lost the semifinal to Olympic champion Lim Sihyeon, Deepika bounced back and defeated former world champion Kang Chaeyoung 7-3 to win the bronze.
Olympic Medal Remains Her Biggest Goal
Deepika feels proud of her achievements. She says, “I think I’ve contributed to Indian archery. People say, ‘Because of you, archery became known.’” But she adds, “Until I win an Olympic medal, I won’t feel I’ve truly proven myself.”
She has competed in four Olympics so far. She reached the quarterfinals in both Tokyo and Paris. Despite heartbreaks, she remains hopeful and focuses on winning a medal at the LA 2028 Olympics.
Handling Criticism with Calm and Strength
The pressure on Deepika extends beyond the archery field. People who do not understand the sport or her journey often criticize her harshly. She says, “I’d be the biggest fool if I carry the opinions of those who don’t know me or my struggles.”
Deepika explains the hard work behind archery: “People say, ‘You’re just standing and shooting.’ But try standing for eight hours, pulling 22 kilos of force 350–400 times a day, sometimes in 45°C heat.”
Physical and Mental Demands of Archery
The bow weighs around 3.5 to 4 kg. Archery requires more than muscle strength. It demands calm mind control and perfect balance. Deepika warns many young archers get injured by trying to lift too much weight too fast. She says, “We used to think rest wasn’t part of training. Now, I know rest is very important.”
New Coach, New Focus on Fundamentals
Deepika trains under Olympian Rahul Banerjee, supported by the Reliance Foundation. She is going back to basics to rebuild her foundation. She shares, “In India, people often compare us to Koreans, who have a structured system from childhood.”
She feels Indian archery lacks patience and long-term planning. “When I joined an academy, they told me if I didn’t perform in six months, they would remove me.” Such pressure pushes players to skip the basics and rush performance.
Deepika now focuses on building her base carefully to improve long-term results.
Rising Costs of Archery Equipment
Post-pandemic inflation has made archery gear expensive. Deepika reveals, “A good international-standard archery set costs around ₹5.5 lakh ($6500). Basic equipment costs less but cannot meet international standards.”
This cost barrier challenges many aspiring archers in India.
Looking Ahead to LA 2028 and Compound Archery
Deepika looks forward to the LA 2028 Olympics, especially with the addition of compound archery. Indian archers have excelled in this discipline, which uses mechanical aids like triggers to help shoot. She says, “If medal chances increase, our country benefits.”
Before LA, she focuses on upcoming World Cups, national trials, and the Asian Games next year. She and her coach are trying a new training approach, blending his experience with her style.
Deepika’s dream: “I want to become the senior world champion.”
