New Delhi: Star Archer Deepika Kumari and her husband Atanu Das on Thursday dropped from the Olympic Podium scheme Olympic Sports Ministry (peak) for performing below par in the national ranking tournament.
Mission Olympic Cell (MOC) last month decided to review the support for Deepika, a former archer Number One World, and Atanu after national ranking archery tournament in Hyderabad, where they cut sorry figure.
“Considering their below par performances in the event, MOC decided not to include it in the list of the peak for the time being,” Sports Ministry said in a statement.
Couple archery rated high after their exploits in the World Cup is different, but both Deepika and Atanu have time and again failed to shine in the event of multi-sport – most recently the Tokyo Olympics, where they are expected of them but they returned empty-handed.
Their problems worsened after they fell in the final of the World Cup in Yankton, United States last October.
Aware of their great contribution in raising the profile of archery in this country, the decision was communicated to the Duo by members of the MOC, Sai and the Archery Association of India officials.
Deepika says negligence peak will only motivate him to come back stronger.
“I appreciate that Sai officials told me before the meeting MOC itself that there is a possibility I was discharged from the top schemes.
I will be motivated to come back with a good score in the competition ahead,” said Deepika was quoted as saying in sports.
Release of the Ministry.
Atanu das added: “We are very disturbed that we could not get the results we want in the Olympics.
And we take a break from archery competitive after the Olympics.
I knew it was a matter of time before we find the form and our form.
Back to where we are.” MOC has approved proposals worth Rs 6.56 lakh for the two athletes development groups to help them in their preparations for this year’s Asian games and other international events.
MOC has sanctioned Rs 4.14 Lakh to Pistol Shooter 20-year-old, who finished fourth in the 10m Air Pistol competition at the Junior World ISSF Shooting Championships in Peru.
Grant will help purchase equipment – a steyr evo 10 e pistol and a wireless optical sensor SCATT MX-W2.
In addition MOC has also approved Rs 2.42 lakh to archer Ridhi Ridhi 17-year-old, who was part of the Indian women’s team that won silver at the Asian Championship in Dhaka in November last year.
Financial assistance will allow young archer to buy limbs for Formula Velo Hoyt bow and his putrur X10.
Ridhi impressive when he fought against the Japanese world number 29 Tomomi Sugimoto at the World Championships in Yankton, USA last September.
MOC also ratified the approval of the proposal of Rs 4 lakh from Manish Paraher Narwal towards the purchase of ammunition and board and lodging expenses of Dronacharya award-winning coach JP Nautiyal.
Star Archery Couple Deepika Kumari, Asan Das Drop from the Tops Program
