Enduring shoulder and back pain, apart from the pressure that comes with increasing expectations, sometimes unrealistic, Deepika Kumari, the icon of Indian archery, sported a spirited visage on her return from the 2015 World Cup final with a silver in recurve.
Also winning the silver in compound, Abhishek Verma contributed to India’s progress on the world scene.
“India and France are the only countries in the world whose archers performed equally well in individual categories, in both recurve and compound events,” said Archery Association of India (AAI) secretary-general Anil Kamineni at a function to felicitate the two archers at the Constitution Club here on Thursday.
The Indians won back-to-back medals at the World Championship in Denmark and World Cup Final in Mexico.
“First time two silvers in one World Cup final,” added Kamineni.
Not easy
It was not easy, Verma said. “We competed in front of more than 10,000 Mexicans. Seeing our performances the crowd backed us and it was a thrilling experience, indeed. It is tough. You get picked, then qualify, compete and win against all odds,” said Verma, who credited Deepika for being the inspiring force for the Indian contingent.
Pressure, confessed Deepika, was “monumental” because of the high expectations by the media and well-wishers back home.
“It hurts when you lose theGOLD,” said Deepika, who was wining her fourth silver in five years.
“The finals become tough. I am happy there was silver this time because last year I could not even qualify. My confidence was low last time but I worked on my mental training and am happy with the result.”
Lokesh Chand, back after training para archers in Iraq, praised Deepika. “Despite all the pressures that come from expectations, she has kept improving.”
Supporting Chand’s views, Verma raved, “Deepika is junior to me but motivates me with her performances.”
“She never complains and that is her best quality. Sometimes you need luck too to win theGOLD, but Deepika deserves all praise for whatever she has achieved so far. We must celebrate her triumphs.”
AAI also put on record the “excellent” assistance received from the government in providing the archers with the best of training facilities in preparing for the Rio Olympics next year.
We competed in front of more than 10,000 Mexicans. Seeing our performances the crowd backed us and it was a thrilling experience, indeed.