Not seeing my child for weeks has been the toughest challenge: Archer Deepika Kumari
Indian archery teams – men’s and women’s – landed back home from Antalya, Turkey, having secured the 2024 Paris Olympic berths, based on rankings. Deepika Kumari, who had made a remarkable comeback after becoming a mother, was excited and relieved at the same time. “The dream was to make it to the Olympics,” she said.
As she couldn’t talk more, she promised to meet later in the evening at her home. “I will be there for a few hours this evening before I leave for Pune for the final phase of training tomorrow morning,” Deepika suggested.
Upon reaching her apartment, Deepika was already waiting in the lobby. As she was speaking, the mind went back to an event last November. At the time, she still had her post-pregnancy weight, and there was scepticism about her Olympics chances. And here she was, 20kg lighter, almost unrecognisable.
“Yes, I have lost more than 20kg. I had to,” she said. “When I first returned to the range after childbirth, I wasn’t sure if I could do it. I was apprehensive. But then when I fired the first arrow, I realised that I still had it in me. I hadn’t forgotten things, and it was all in my muscle memory. I needed to get fitter and give it my best shot.”
Losing her spot to younger teammates in the Asian Games, the comeback wasn’t a smooth ride for Deepika. But she didn’t give up.
“It wasn’t really an option. Atanu (Das, her husband) always told me that I could do it. ‘If you’re leaving your newborn to do something, I hope you realise that it is something you desperately want to do’ he said.
