New Delhi, October 10: Indian woman archer Deepika Kumar, who hogged lime light after winning two gold medals in the Commonwealth Games 2010, started her career with targeting mangoes on trees.
Deepika, a daughter of an auto-rickshaw driver in Ranchi, never missed her aim while shooting mangoes on trees with stones.
A proud mother of Deepika, Geeta Mahto, said that she never missed her target with stones in her childhood.
Mahto said that it was very difficult for them to provide financial assistance to her fulfill her dream. “We cut our family budget to provide her equipment and other supports.”
The 17-year-old archer started her practice with bamboo made bows and arrows. Deepika got her first breakthrough in 2005 when she entered Arjun Archery Academy in the state. But her professional archery journey begun in the year 2006 when she joined she joined the Tata Archery Academy in Jamshedpur.
Deepika started her training with proper equipment and uniform at Tata Archery Academy. She also received Rs 500 as stipend.
But the fate of Deepika’s family changed on Saturday when she won Gold medal and Chief minister Arjun Munda announced Rs 10 lakh gift for her. On Sunday, she brought 25th Gold medal for India in Women Single Archery event.
Deepika’s aim doesn’t end here. She dreams to win medal in Olympics.
—Agencies