Good life and a lot of respect: How archery shaped Deepika Kumari
"As I started to bring more laurels, our financial issues in the family were resolved."
There was a time when Deepika Kumari's household strained with financial stress as her father Shivnarayan Mahato, an auto-rickshaw driver, strived hard to make ends meet. Her mother Geeta Mahato, a nurse at Ranchi Medical College, would add to the gross income but it was hardly enough.
Constant struggle and hardships, Kumari's first friends, only made her stronger in her pursuit of excellence. Starting her archery career at the age of 12, she went on to become one of the finest Indian archers, thus resolving the financial issues at home and earning a lot of respect and confidence.
"Archery has helped me a lot. As I started to bring more laurels, our financial issues in the family were resolved. Sports has given us everything. A good life. Respect in front of people. It has given us the confidence that every human being needs in their life," Deepika Kumari told the Olympic Channel.
"Financial problems have reduced but my father still likes to ride auto-rickshaw whenever he wishes to because it's his decision and we never say no to that. But our life is better now. There is no tension," she added.
A tally of 34 medals -- team and individual events -- from the World Cups, World Championships, Asian Archery Championships, Commonwealth Games and the Asian Games is what Kumari has earned so far. She also rose to the top of the rankings in 2012.
But an Olympic medal is still missing on the list of her rich haul.
"We all want to bring a medal and hungry for it. It is an Olympic medal that I don't have yet and so I'm putting in my all to add that to my tally," the Ranchi archer said.
Kumari will spearhead India's challenge in the first stage of the Archery World Cup, which will be held in Guatemala City from April 19 to 25. The 26-year-old believes that it will help the team build co-ordination, and shape-up mentally and technically ahead of the Tokyo Games.
"We have not had any (international) competition for one and a half years. It was just the trials we participated in. So for us, the more tournaments we get, the better it will be for us as to get into the competition zone." she added.
Tokyo 2020 will be her third appearance at the Olympics and another chance to put her best foot forward as the country waits to see the daughter of the soil stand tall on the podium.