New Delhi, June 18: Indian ace recurve archer Deepika Kumari will mark her season debut at the Archery World Cup stage-III in Paris.
Deepika had a career year in 2021, winning two stages of the Hyundai Archery World Cup – in Guatemala and in Paris and claimed a no.1 spot in the world rankings.
But at the start of this year, she missed out on her long-held spot on the Indian top team, although it was said that she would shoot at stage four as part of a ‘B’ squad.
There was a caveat published with the team announcement. Should the squad under-perform ahead
of the Asian Games, then changes would be made.
Although the Games have since been postponed, that promised change has been made – Deepika is on the entry list for next week’s third stage of the World Cup in Paris.
“I’m happy I’m back in the team,” Deepika told world archery. “Every competition is different, every situation is different. But yes, I am excited to play for my country again.”
The event will be the first time Deepika competes against archers from Korea – except at the Olympics – since 2019, as that team skipped last year’s post-pandemic return for the circuit. And Kumari didn’t make the Indian team for the world championships at the end of last season, either.
“There was so much going on those six to seven months,” she said. “After that, I lost my confidence and I’m out of the team. I’ve been working hard now for two or three months and I am still.”
“No one can say they’re ready for any one thing,” she said. “You have to work to be ready for every situation.”
The world cup stage 3 will begin on June 21. Competition for recurve archers in starts with qualifying on Wednesday.
