July 2024 | 983 words | 4-minute read
On June 16, a Tata Archery Academy cadet (TAA), Bhajan Kaur, defeated the top-seed, Iran’s Mobina Fallah, in straight sets to claim not just the gold at the Archery in Paris Final Qualifier in Turkey but also India’s first 2024 Paris Olympics quota in Women’s Individual Recurve Archery.
On the same day, at the same tournament, TAA cadet Ankita Bhakat secured a second berth for India in Women’s Individual Recurve Archery at the Paris Olympics by reaching the quarterfinals.
Their Olympic berth clinches were closely followed by the news of a third TAA cadet securing a place in Women’s Individual Recurve Archery. Deepika Kumari, who not only trained at the academy since she was 13 but is a former Tata Steel employee, had locked her fourth consecutive Olympics berth through team ranking.
These events marked a milestone moment for the Tata Archery Academy. The three TAA cadets form the entire Indian Women’s Archery contingent to the 2024 Paris Olympics.
And that’s not all.
Even the National Women’s Archery Coach leading them to Paris is the academy’s Purnima Mahato.
At the Tata Archery Academy
The archers unanimously credit TAA for providing the support and guidance they need to pursue the sport professionally and excel. The academy was established in Jamshedpur by Tata Steel in 1996 as a residential centre of excellence to train archers scientifically and equip them to compete nationally and internationally — at a time when there was no template for modern archery academies in India.
The cadets are outfitted with the best equipment and trained amid high quality infrastructure by top coaches. They are supported by strength and conditioning coaches, sports psychologists, sports physiotherapists, nutritionists, and more. TAA also works with state and national bodies to open pathways to the best professional opportunities for their cadets.
“We have to play it [the Olympics] like any other tournament. Every player there is dealing with equal pressure, so it comes down to being able to deal with it. ...Once we get that first medal, we will keep winning.”—Purnima Mahato
All of this is funded by Tata Steel, making sure that the opportunities are available even to those who cannot afford to pursue sports. Several former and current TAA cadets who are now India’s top archers wouldn’t have had the freedom to pursue their dreams without this ecosystem.
In an earlier conversation with Tata.com, Ms Mahato, a coach at TAA since 2000, had noted, “Before TAA, archery was not promoted in this manner anywhere in India. It was a huge deal for the sport and the country. There are other academies now, but TAA was the first of its kind, and the gains and wins we see in archery today are because of Tata. Most of the current best archers in India are from TAA.”
Her students concur. “The environment, coaches, support staff like psychologists, physiotherapists and nutritionists, training facilities, all make a difference,” says Ms Bhakat, who joined TAA in 2014.
“Archery is a mental game, and this environment, where we have support from teammates and coaches is very important to calm your nerves and improve your shots,” says Ms Kaur, who joined TAA in 2021, adding, “Training with world-class coaches and players and the emphasis on discipline and a routine has made me more efficient.”
Did you know?
At least 15 Tata Steel employees have represented India in archery events at the Olympics.
The Tata group now boasts at least 8 Olympic winners and 60+ Olympians who have participated in a range of events — football, athletics, archery, rowing, cycling, basketball, judo, boxing, shooting, etc.
Air India’s Gagan Narang has been named India’s Chef-De-Mission to the 2024 Paris Olympics.
All eyes on Paris
Ms Bhakat, Ms Kaur and Ms Kumari have also qualified for the Women’s Team Recurve Archery event at the Olympics. Their qualifications were critical for India’s eligibility to compete in all five archery medal events in Paris — men’s and women’s team, individual and mixed categories.
While Ms Bhakat and Ms Kaur will head to their Olympics debut on a high after their bronze medal win at the 2023 Asian Games — a win that ended India’s 13-year dry spell in recurve archery at the Games — Ms Kumari is a two-time World No 1 and has represented India at the Olympics since the 2012 London Olympics. Coach Mahato, meanwhile, has led the Indian archery team to the 2008 Beijing Olympics, the 2012 London Olympics and multiple international victories; and won the Dronacharya Award, India’s highest honour for coaches.
They carry with them the hopes of an entire nation. Though Indian archers have won consistently on the global stage, an Olympics medal in the sport has remained elusive.
Speaking with Tata.com during the Tokyo Olympics, Ms Mahato had said, “Our form is very good, but we haven’t been able to overcome the fear of the Olympics. And the fact that we have no archery medal at the Olympics so far is the biggest contributor to this fear and stress. The pressure to be the first is a lot.”
“Before TAA, archery was not promoted in this manner anywhere in India. ...and the gains and wins we see in archery today are because of Tata.”—Purnima Mahato
She had added, “If they have to make it to Paris, they have to first be ready to tackle the pressure and forget about being the first Indian archery medal winner. I am already working on them for 2024. I am working on them to solely focus on the process, be it at the Olympics or any other tournament… We have to play it like any other tournament. Every player there is dealing with equal pressure, so it comes down to being able to deal with it. You can never predict a win. You could be a world record holder or a world champion. You may have played a phenomenal first match but there is no guarantee that your next match will be just as good. It’s about that day, that moment, that shot. Whoever makes the best shot on that day will win.”
However, she said with conviction, “Once we get that first medal, we will keep winning.”
—Monali Sarkar
