Deepika Kumari, India’s star archer, has her sights set on gold at the Paris Olympics 2024. Her journey to the top has been backed not only by the 30-year’s own will but also by significant support from the Indian government. The journey to the Paris Olympics has been a noteworthy one for Deepika, who has returned in a heartwarming fashion after she gave birth to her daughter in December 2022.
Subsequently she took a vital decision to train under legendary Korean coach Kim Hyung-Tak. Under his guidance, Deepika excelled in a three-month long selection trails, and secured the spot for Paris Olympics.
Money Spent on Deepika Kumari’s Training
While Deepika trains at the Sports Authority of India (SAI) facility in Sonipat, Haryana, her path to becoming a world-class athlete required various resources. According to the Indian Express, the Indian government funded a total of Rs 39.92 lakh towards Deepika Kumari’s training in the lead-up to the Paris Olympics. In fact, almost Rs 40 crore have been spent by the Government on Archery for the Summer Games.
This money probably went towards a bunch of things. Deepika’s coach needs to get paid, right? And she definitely needs top-notch archery equipment to compete with the best. Travel and stay for tournaments, both in India and abroad, are likely covered too. There’s a chance it even paid for a nutritionist to make sure Deepika’s on point for every competition.
What are Deepika’s chances for Olympic medal?
By giving Deepika this kind of financial boost, the government is basically saying they’re all in for Indian athletes to win big. This money helps athletes focus on that brutal training and those intense competitions, hopefully bringing home that shiny gold medal.
So, with the Olympics just around the corner, can Deepika Kumari turn all this support into gold? Her talent is unreal, and Paris has been a happy-hunting ground for Deepika. In the French capital, she has won a hattrick of gold medals in the 2021 World Cup—individual, team, and mixed team along with Atanu. She had also clinched a World Cup final silver in 2013 and a World Cup silver last year.
Given her immense record, Deepika’s confidence must be high. Regardless, results have not been on her side in the last few years, with her failing to qualify for the Asian Games in 2023.
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