Deepika Kumari

Deepika Kumari was born in Ranchi, Bihar (now Jharkhand) to Shiv Charan Prajapati, an auto-rickshaw driver, and Geeta, a nurse at Ranchi Medical College, and a native of Ratu Chatti village, 15 km from Ranchi.{{Cite news|url=https://widgets.hindustantimes.com/olympics/eyes-on-deepika-kumari-as-india-hopes-for-first-archery-medal-from-rio-games/story-k63TiDbxWMMaQ8PFUXlIkO.html|title=Eyes on Deepika Kumari as India hopes for first archery medal at Rio|website=hindustantimes|date=23 July 2016|access-date=25 May 2021|archive-date=25 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210525124804/https://widgets.hindustantimes.com/olympics/eyes-on-deepika-kumari-as-india-hopes-for-first-archery-medal-from-rio-games/story-k63TiDbxWMMaQ8PFUXlIkO.html|url-status=live}} She belongs to a Prajapati family.{{Cite news|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/other-sports/ace-archer-deepika-kumari-gets-padma-shri-takes-a-bow/story-bq8pWcyaWAp92Yp72v3BNK.html|title=Ace archer Deepika Kumari gets Padma Shri, takes a bow|work=Hindustantimes|date=26 January 2016|access-date=9 October 2022}}

As a child, she practised aiming for mangoes with stones.[https://web.archive.org/web/20110716065036/http://www.siasat.com/english/news/deepika-kumari-mangoes-cwg-gold "Deepika Kumari: From mangoes to CWG gold"],{{dead link|date=September 2020}} The Siasat Daily, 10 October 2010. Retrieved 10 October 2010. During her early days it was difficult for her parents to financially support Deepika's dream, often compromising on the family budget to buy her new equipment for her training; as a result, Deepika practised archery using homemade bamboo bows and arrows. Deepika's cousin Vidya Kumari, then an archer residing at Tata Archery Academy, helped her develop her talent.

File:Purnima mahato with deepika kumari at world cup final,istanbul.jpg]]

Deepika made her first breakthrough in 2005 when she entered the Arjun Archery Academy at Kharsawan, an institute set up by Meera Munda, wife of Jharkhand's chief minister Arjun Munda. But her professional archery journey began in the year 2006 when she joined the Tata Archery Academy in Jamshedpur.{{Cite web|url=https://www.vogue.in/content/this-film-captures-the-inspiring-journey-of-olympic-archer-deepika-kumari/|title=This film captures the inspiring journey of Olympic archer Deepika Kumari|website=VOGUE India|language=en-US|access-date=2017-09-27|archive-date=27 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170927155603/https://www.vogue.in/content/this-film-captures-the-inspiring-journey-of-olympic-archer-deepika-kumari/|url-status=live}} It was here that she started her training with both the proper equipment as well as a uniform. She also received ₹500 as a stipend. Deepika returned home once in her first three years there, only after having won the Cadet World Championship title in November 2009.[http://www.hindustantimes.com/Father-accepts-Deepika-has-proved-him-wrong/Article1-611066.aspx "Father accepts Deepika has proved him wrong"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101227133451/http://www.hindustantimes.com/Father-accepts-Deepika-has-proved-him-wrong/Article1-611066.aspx |date=27 December 2010 }}, The Hindustan times, 11 October 2010. Retrieved 11 October 2010. Kumari has long been seen as the one to finally get India its first medal in archery.{{Cite web|date=June 30, 2021|first=Suhani|last=Singh|title=Why archer Deepika Kumari is a serious medal contender in the Tokyo Games|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india-today-insight/story/why-archer-deepika-kumari-is-a-serious-medal-contender-in-the-tokyo-games-1820725-2021-06-29|access-date=2021-07-25|website=India Today|language=en}}

Deepika married archer Atanu Das on 30 June 2020.{{Cite news|url=https://sportstar.thehindu.com/archery/deepika-kumari-atanu-das-wedding-ceremony-june-30-covid-19-social-distancing-menu-arjun-munda/article31932717.ece|title=Deepika Kumari, Atanu Das to get married on June 30|website=The Hindu|date=27 June 2020|access-date=31 October 2020|archive-date=18 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210518074043/https://sportstar.thehindu.com/archery/deepika-kumari-atanu-das-wedding-ceremony-june-30-covid-19-social-distancing-menu-arjun-munda/article31932717.ece|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|url=https://thebridge.in/archery/archers-deepika-kumari-atanu-das-tie-knot-ranchi-tuesday/|title=Archers Deepika Kumari and Atanu Das tie the knot in Ranchi on Tuesday|website=thebridge|date=30 June 2020|access-date=31 October 2020|archive-date=28 July 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240728195147/https://thebridge.in/archery/archers-deepika-kumari-atanu-das-tie-knot-ranchi-tuesday/|url-status=live}}{{Cite news |title=Deepika Kumari and Atanu Das got married. |url=https://www.prabhatkhabar.com/state/jharkhand/ranchi/deepika-atanu-wedding-live-international-archer-deepika-will-hold-atanus-hand-today-in-ranchi-jharkhand |url-status=live |access-date=17 June 2024 |archive-date=17 June 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240617110259/https://www.prabhatkhabar.com/state/jharkhand/ranchi/deepika-atanu-wedding-live-international-archer-deepika-will-hold-atanus-hand-today-in-ranchi-jharkhand }} Their daughter, Vedika, was born in December 2022.{{Cite news |title= Paris Olympics 2024 Day 2: Deepika Kumari's mother gets emotional; |url= https://www.livemint.com/sports/news/paris-olympics-2024-day-2-deepika-kumari-mother-emotional-says-her-daughter-was-just-a-week-old-watch-manu-bhaker-11722144355935.html }}

Deepika became the second Indian to win the title after Palton Hansda won the junior compound competition at the 2006 Archery World Cup in Mérida, Mexico.{{cite web |url=http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/feature/archery-champion-deepika-an-inspiration-for-the-youth_100225281.html |title=Archery champion Deepika, an inspiration for the youth |publisher=Thaindian.com |date=30 July 2009 |access-date=15 March 2011 |archive-date=28 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190228014634/http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/feature/archery-champion-deepika-an-inspiration-for-the-youth_100225281.html |url-status=dead }}

She won the 11th Youth World Archery Championship held in Ogden, Utah, United States in 2009, at the age of fifteen. She also won a gold medal in the same competition in the women's team recurve event, alongside Dola Banerjee and Bombayala Devi.

File:XIX Commonwealth Games-2010 Delhi Archery (Women’s Individual Recurve) Deepika Kumari of India (Gold), Alison Jane Williamson of England (Silver) and Dola Banerjee of India (Bronze) during the medal presentation ceremony.jpg of England (Silver) and Dola Banerjee of India (Bronze) during the 2010 Delhi Archery (Women's Individual Recurve) medal presentation ceremony at XIX Commonwealth Games.]]

At the Delhi Commonwealth games 2010, Deepika won two gold medals, one in the individual event and the other in the women's team recurve event. For this, she was honoured with the Outstanding Performance at CWG (Female) Award at the 2010 Sahara Sports Awards ceremony.

Later at the Asian Games of 2010, held in Guangzhou, China, Deepika missed out on a medal after she lost to Kwon Un Sil of North Korea in the bronze-medal play-off of the women's individual archery event. But as a part of the Indian archery recurve team, along with Rimil Buriuly and Dola Banerjee, Deepika edged out Chinese Taipei 218–217 in the bronze play-off to ensure a podium finish at the Aoti Archery Range.

In May 2012, Deepika Kumari won her first World Cup individual stage recurve gold medal at Antalya, Turkey. She beat Korea's Lee Sung-Jin by six set points to four in the final.{{cite news|title=Deepika Kumari wins first World Cup title|url=http://www.thehindu.com/sport/other-sports/article3387963.ece|access-date=6 May 2012|newspaper=The Hindu|date=6 May 2012|location=Chennai, India|archive-date=3 February 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160203031549/http://www.thehindu.com/sport/other-sports/article3387963.ece|url-status=live}} Later in 2012, she would go on to become world no. 1 in Women's Recurve Archery.

In London Olympics 2012, Deepika Kumari lost against Amy Oliver of Great Britain in the opening round, attributing a relatively poor performance to fever and high winds.{{cite news |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/tournaments/london-olympics/Deepika-Kumari-crashes-out-to-end-Indian-challenge-in-archery/articleshow/15311945.cms |title=Deepika Kumari crashes out to end Indian challenge in archery |access-date=1 August 2012 |work=The Times of India |archive-date=5 August 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120805053332/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/tournaments/london-olympics/Deepika-Kumari-crashes-out-to-end-Indian-challenge-in-archery/articleshow/15311945.cms |url-status=live }}{{cite web |title=Deepika Kumari: Targeting Gold |url=http://forbesindia.com/article/30-under-30/deepika-kumari-targeting-gold/37199/1 |publisher=dna |date=19 February 2014 |access-date=14 April 2014 |archive-date=13 November 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191113193309/http://www.forbesindia.com/article/30-under-30/deepika-kumari-targeting-gold/37199/1 |url-status=live }}

On 22 July 2013, she won the gold medal in Archery World Cup stage 3 held at Medellin, Colombia where India finished fourth.{{cite news | url=http://www.thehindu.com/sport/other-sports/deepika-shoots-gold-in-archery-world-cup/article4940765.ece | location=Chennai, India | work=The Hindu | title=Deepika shoots gold in archery World Cup | date=22 July 2013 | access-date=22 July 2013 | archive-date=30 December 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131230151213/http://www.thehindu.com/sport/other-sports/deepika-shoots-gold-in-archery-world-cup/article4940765.ece | url-status=live }} On 22 September 2013, Deepika lost 4–6 to Yun Ok-Hee of South Korea & settled for silver medal in 2013 FITA Archery World Cup. This was her 3rd Silver medal in as many appearances in the World Cup Final.{{cite web |title=Deepika Kumari settles for silver in Archery World Cup Final |url=http://www.dnaindia.com/sport/1892501/report-deepika-kumari-settles-for-silver-in-archery-world-cup-final |publisher=dna |date=22 September 2013 |access-date=24 September 2013 |archive-date=27 September 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130927202044/http://www.dnaindia.com/sport/1892501/report-deepika-kumari-settles-for-silver-in-archery-world-cup-final |url-status=live }}

In 2014, Deepika was featured by Forbes (India) as one of their '30 under 30'. However, she failed to make the Indian team for 2014 after finishing outside the top 4 at the national qualifications.{{cite web |title=KUMARI not in India's Shanghai squad |url=http://www.worldarchery.org/NEWS/News/ArtMID/10510/ArticleID/9458/KUMARI-not-in-India%E2%80%99s-Shanghai-squad |publisher=dna |date=2 April 2014 |access-date=14 April 2014 |archive-date=15 April 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140415081254/http://www.worldarchery.org/NEWS/News/ArtMID/10510/ArticleID/9458/KUMARI-not-in-India%E2%80%99s-Shanghai-squad |url-status=live }}

In 2015, Deepika's first medal came at the second stage of the World Cup, where she won a bronze in the individual event. At the World Championships in Copenhagen, she won a team silver along with Laxmirani Majhi and Rimil Buriuly, after narrowly losing out on a gold in a match against Russia which they conceded 4–5 in a shoot-off. In the latter half of this year, she won the silver medal in the World Cup final. In November 2015, she won a bronze medal in the Asian Championships with Jayanta Talukdar in the Recurve Mixed Team event.

In April 2016, at the first stage of the World Cup in Shanghai, Deepika equaled the Ki Bo-bae's world record of (686/720) in the women's recurve event.{{cite news|title=Deepika Kumari Equals World Record in Shanghai|url=http://worldarchery.org/news/139330/deepika-kumari-equals-world-record-shanghai|access-date=27 April 2016|work=World Archery Federation|publisher=worldarchery.org|date=27 April 2016|archive-date=26 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180726170117/https://worldarchery.org/news/139330/deepika-kumari-equals-world-record-shanghai|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/more-sports/others/Deepika-Kumari-equals-world-record-at-Archery-World-Cup/articleshow/52011040.cms|title=Deepika Kumari equals world record at Archery World Cup - Times of India|website=The Times of India|date=27 April 2016|access-date=27 April 2016|archive-date=13 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180813210829/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/more-sports/others/Deepika-Kumari-equals-world-record-at-Archery-World-Cup/articleshow/52011040.cms|url-status=live}}

Deepika Kumari was the part of the team that qualified for 2016 Rio Olympics.{{cite news|title=2016 Rio Olympics: Indian men's archery team faces last chance to make cut|url=http://zeenews.india.com/sports/2016-rio-olympics-indian-mens-archery-team-faces-last-chance-to-make-cut_1894321.html|access-date=8 August 2016|publisher=Zee News|date=11 June 2016|archive-date=25 December 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181225032456/http://zeenews.india.com/sports/2016-rio-olympics-indian-mens-archery-team-faces-last-chance-to-make-cut_1894321.html|url-status=live}} The Indian women's recursive team, consisting of Deepika Kumari, Bombayla Devi Laishram and Laxmirani Majhi, finished 7th in the ranking round. The team won their match against Colombia in the round of 16 before losing the quarterfinal match against Russia.{{cite news|title=India women's archery team of Deepika Kumari, Laxmirani Majhi, Bombayla Devi lose quarter-final against Russia|url=http://indianexpress.com/sports/rio-2016-olympics/india-womens-archery-team-of-deepika-kumari-laxmirani-majhi-bombayla-devi-lose-quarter-final-against-russia-day-2-2960351/|access-date=8 August 2016|newspaper=The Indian Express|archive-date=25 December 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181225032443/https://indianexpress.com/sports/rio-2016-olympics/india-womens-archery-team-of-deepika-kumari-laxmirani-majhi-bombayla-devi-lose-quarter-final-against-russia-day-2-2960351/|url-status=live}}

In the women's Individual archery, Deepika Kumari produced a stellar performance in the round of 64 against Kristine Esebua of Georgia. Deepika won this round with a score of 6–4. In the next round, Deepika had a much-easier outing against Guendalina Sartori of Italy. Deepika started badly and lost the first round but won the next three to ease through 6–2 in the end.{{cite web|url=https://sportscafe.in/articles/sports/2016/aug/11/rio-2016-archers-and-boxer-manoj-kumar-dazzle-while-jitu-rai-falters|title=Rio 2016 - Archers and boxer Manoj Kumar dazzle, while Jitu Rai falters|date=10 August 2016|access-date=11 August 2016|archive-date=17 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160917010246/https://sportscafe.in/articles/sports/2016/aug/11/rio-2016-archers-and-boxer-manoj-kumar-dazzle-while-jitu-rai-falters|url-status=live}} However, in the round of 16, Deepika went down to Taipei's Tan Ya-ting with a score of 0 against 6.{{cite news|title=Bombayla Devi, Deepika Kumari bow out of Rio 2016 Olympics|url=http://indianexpress.com/sports/rio-2016-olympics/bombayla-devi-deepika-kumari-bow-out-of-india-archery-day-6-2968789/|access-date=12 August 2016|newspaper=The Indian Express|date=11 August 2016|archive-date=25 December 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181225032451/https://indianexpress.com/sports/rio-2016-olympics/bombayla-devi-deepika-kumari-bow-out-of-india-archery-day-6-2968789/|url-status=live}}

In November 2019, Deepika Kumari secured an Olympic quota at the Continental Qualification Tournament being held on the sidelines of the 21st Asian Archery Championships in Bangkok.{{cite news |title=Take a bow! Deepika Kumari secures Olympic quota with gold |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/sport/other/2019/nov/29/take-a-bow-deepika-kumari-secures-olympic-quota-with-gold-2068647.html |access-date=29 November 2019 |work=The New Indian Express |archive-date=30 November 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191130141841/https://www.newindianexpress.com/sport/other/2019/nov/29/take-a-bow-deepika-kumari-secures-olympic-quota-with-gold-2068647.html |url-status=live }} Deepika Kumari India won 3 gold medals in the Archery's World Cup Stage 3 tournament in Paris 2021.{{Cite web|first=Lucas|last=Minnette|title=Deepika Kumari Net Worth 2021 – Income, Cars, Husband & Career|url=https://trendnetworth.com/deepika-kumari-net-worth/|url-status=live|access-date=2021-06-28|language=en-US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210628055210/https://trendnetworth.com/deepika-kumari-net-worth/ |archive-date=28 June 2021 }} She thus recorded the 13th triple gold and became the 11th archer to achieve the feat – in the 15-year history of the Hyundai Archery World Cup.

A biographical documentary called Ladies First, released in 2017, was made by Uraaz Bahl and his wife Shaana Levy-Bahl. The movie won at the London Independent Film Festival and was screened at the Mallorca Film Festival in October 2017. Ladies First has also been submitted for the Short Documentary category at the Academy Awards.{{citation needed|date=July 2024}}

This documentary was also screened for Maneka Gandhi, the Union Cabinet Minister for Women and Child Development, with an aim to increase awareness about women in sports in India.{{Cite news|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.in/pranav-gandhi/archer-deepika-kumari-asks-some-difficult-questions-about-women-in-indian-sports-in-this-documentary_a_23267671/|title=Archer Deepika Kumari Asks Some Difficult Questions on India's Hypocrisy About Women in Sports|date=2017-11-14|work=Huffington Post India|access-date=2017-11-15|language=en-IN|archive-date=15 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171115201219/http://www.huffingtonpost.in/pranav-gandhi/archer-deepika-kumari-asks-some-difficult-questions-about-women-in-indian-sports-in-this-documentary_a_23267671/|url-status=live}}

File:The President, Shri Pranab Mukherjee presenting the Arjuna Award for the year-2012 to Ms. Deepika Kumari for Archery, in a glittering ceremony, at Rashtrapati Bhavan, in New Delhi on August 29, 2012.jpg, presenting the Arjuna Award for the year 2012 to Deepika Kumari for Archery, in a glittering ceremony, at the Rashtrapati Bhavan, in New Delhi on 29 August 2012.]]

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Category:1994 births

Category:Living people

Category:Indian female archers

Category:People from Ranchi

Category:Nagpuria people

Category:Archers from Jharkhand

Category:Sportswomen from Jharkhand

Category:Archers at the 2012 Summer Olympics

Category:Archers at the 2016 Summer Olympics

Category:Archers at the 2020 Summer Olympics

Category:Archers at the 2024 Summer Olympics

Category:Olympic archers for India

Category:Archers at the 2010 Asian Games

Category:Archers at the 2014 Asian Games

Category:Archers at the 2018 Asian Games

Category:Asian Games bronze medalists for India

Category:Asian Games medalists in archery

Category:Medalists at the 2010 Asian Games

Category:Archers at the 2010 Commonwealth Games

Category:Commonwealth Games gold medallists for India

Category:Commonwealth Games medallists in archery

Category:World Archery Championships medalists

Category:Recipients of the Arjuna Award

Category:Recipients of the Padma Shri in sports

Category:Medallists at the 2010 Commonwealth Games