Goals aren’t easy to achieve. Deepika Kumari, one of the best woman archers in India, took a challenging journey to fulfill her dreams. Life wasn’t easy for her. She lived in a village in rural India where girls don’t even receive proper education or opportunities to work towards their dreams. Deepika Kumari’s journey of rising from a rural area to become one of the best archers is inspiring.
Family and Early Life
Deepika Kumari grew up in the village Ram Chatti. The village was 15 kilometers away from Jharkhand. Her father drove an auto-rickshaw, and her mother worked as a nurse at Ranchi Medical College. The family income was merely around 1500 rupees per month. Deepika’s parents lived with her uncle and aunt. The fight at home about money was frequent. Deepika felt sad whenever she saw her parents suffering.
Developing Interest In Archery
When living with her grandmother, Deepika Kumari met her cousin who practiced archery. Initially, Deepika did not have an interest in the sport. But eventually, watching her cousin play, she also started liking the sport. She decided to join a good archery academy. Deepika mentioned, “I wanted to reduce the burden on my parents’ shoulders. They were already doing their best.” The academy was away from home, and she was expected to move from her village.
Joining The Archery Academy
Deepika’s father initially did not allow her to go. He had the fear of what the people living in the village would think. Deepika’s mother convinced him and made him understand that his daughter’s dreams were much more important. Deepika Kumari tried wanted to join Tata Archery Academy but could not get in. So, she joined Arjun Archery Academy. The academy provided her with food and shelter.
Proper Training
She could not perform well, and the school asked her to leave. She asked for a three-month prohibition period and promised to do well by then. She did her best and practiced a lot. Within three months, she became good at archery. The academy had no bathrooms and wild elephants nearby. Deepika Kumari dealt with all the challenges and won most of the local competitions and inter-state meets. Tata Archery Academy saw her potential, and after a year, she was offered a seat with a monthly stipend of 500 rupees. For the first time, she got to practice archery with proper equipment.
Achievements of Deepika Kumari
In 2009, at the age of 15, Deepika won the 11th Youth World Archery Championships in the US. Then, two years later, she won two gold medals at the commonwealth games in New Delhi. Deepika Kumari first participated in the Olympics held in London (2012). In 2020, she made it to the quarter-finals in the Tokyo Olympics. In 2012, Deepika Kumari won her first World Cup Gold medal in Recurve’s women’s individual. In2016, she was awarded the Padma Shri.
Deepika Kumari a Inspirational Example For All
She is a perfect example of women’s empowerment. She rose from a small village without any proper resources or support and went on to become India’s topmost archer. Her story is truly inspiring for every youth out there who wants to fulfill their dreams, but some fear is stopping them. It is necessary to rise over your fears and challenge yourself. Determination and hard work are all one requires to reach their goal. Mad4India wishes Deepika all the best in all her future endeavors!
If you loved this story, read a story – The Inspirational Story Of Hima Das, The First Indian Woman Athlete Gold Medalist.
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