Deepika Kumari Eyeing Maiden Asian Games Medal
Three-time 'World Cup Final' silver-medallist Deepika Kumari is peaking at the right time and that is a welcome sign according to India coach Dharmendra Tiwary, who is incidentally also Deepika's personal coach since she picked up the bow at the Tata Archery Academy.
Having missed out on a bronze medal in Guangzhou four years ago, Indian recurve archer Deepika Kumari is looking to open her account in the individual event at the Asian Games in Incheon next month.
That the three-time 'World Cup Final' silver-medallist is peaking at the right time is a welcome sign, India coach Dharmendra Tiwary, who is incidentally her personal coach since she picked up the bow at the Tata Archery Academy, told PTI from New Delhi.
"She's showing signs of her old form after changing the equipment. In archery, a comeback player usually peaks after a month after getting back to the rhythm. I'm happy that she's enjoying her shootings. I'm hopeful of seeing her on the podium for the first time," the coach, who has been given a contract till the Asian Games, said.
The former world No. 1 Deepika slipped to 19th in the rankings on the back of a string of poor show this year as she could not make it to the senior squad for the State I and III of the World Cup.
The 20-year-old, however, made amends ahead of the Stage IV and concluding World Cup meet of the season as inspired by her performance, the women's team bagged the gold and she also went on to bag two bronze medals as India finished with five medals including two silver.
Her form could be salvaged after Tiwary insisted that Deepika get back to her old equipment.
"After all, she had got all the success through the old bow and I thought it would be a nice idea to get that back. It was more to do with mental than the technical aspects," Tiwary revealed.
Asked whether he should be given the credit for the turnaround, Tiwary said "I'm not blaming anybody but let me tell you, all of Deepika's medal performances have come under an Indian coach."
Deepika had won her Commonwealth Games gold medal under then India chief coach Limba Ram who parted ways after the Guangzhou Asian Games in 2010 and Korean coach Lim Chae Woong was appointed last year.
The 16-member archery squad is currently training at the Nehru Stadium ahead of their August 28 departure to the Korean city.