How a mother’s determination and sacrifices gave India a 15-year-old archery prodigy for the World Championships

Gatha’s archery career loomed large, and had become the axis of Dipali’s life. It all seems worth the trouble now that Gatha, just 15, heads to her first senior Worlds, alongside seniors Deepika Kumari and Ankita Bhakat.

“Missing family functions was one thing, but relatives were not very kind when they heard I left my younger twins in the paediatric hospital ward once, struggling on IV fluids, with the hospital staff taking care of them, just so that my elder daughter wouldn’t miss her Sunday training in Pune to become an international archer,” Dipali says, recalling the formative years of the prodigy.

Dipali and Gatha’s father, were both ophthalmologists in the small town, though the family is now managing her career with the mother permanently shifting to Pune, while the father takes care of the twins in Solapur, continuing his OPD practice at the hospital, with the staff stepping in gladly to help out the small town family with Olympic dreams.

The decision to train in Pune at a Wanowrie facility under coach Ranjit Changle happened serendipitously. An extremely bright student, Gatha often travelled to Pune to attend workshops for indoor science model exhibitions.

“Since very young, Gatha was interested in space science, and would read all about galaxies and watch YouTube videos on black holes. So the Pune trips with me driving started because of her interest in outer space,” her mother recalls.

A medallist at the Youth Worlds, and one of the youngest to clear India’s senior trials, Gatha is known for her nerveless shooting, precision as well as her geeky technical understanding of the bow. (File Photo)

Strong focus

Where the couple practised as eye specialists, Gatha would sit still in one spot immersed in books for hours with the chaos of cramped hospitals hardly disturbing her. “A doctor friend once noticed how sharp she was, and not fazed by hospital crowds. Her concentration was unreal,” Dipali recalls.

The book, she clearly remembers, was a pictorial one where one closes the pages and remembers exactly where every object in the scenery is, a game Gatha played with her late grandfather.

“The friend suggested we put her in archery. It was just a physical activity then.”

On her trips to Pune for the science projects, Gatha saw an archery academy there. A slump in form while practising in Solapur was seen as a challenge, so looking for technical corrections, she shifted focus to archery altogether.

“As parents, we kept hinting to her to choose academics, but she was smitten by the bow,” Dipali recalls. So no matter what the situation, the drive to the Pune academy became non-negotiable.

“It could get tiring, we often reached home at 1 am or 2 am. I gave up on my medical practice and put her ahead of the twins. She has seen all that, that’s why her hunger to succeed is exceptional. She watched us make sacrifices.”

A medallist at the Youth Worlds, and one of the youngest to clear India’s senior trials, Gatha is known for her nerveless shooting, precision as well as her geeky technical understanding of the bow. In trying to fix her technique once, because the clicker wasn’t perfect affecting arrow release, Gatha cut the arrows and tried everything to troubleshoot.

The move from an Indian arrow to recurve saw the mother cut down on her gold jewellery.

“More than gold, I feel sad about having to give up my career as a doctor, and become a housewife, and losing my independence and hunkering down to become someone constantly thinking about her diet and requirements. Maybe obvious for most, but it was a huge adjustment for me,” the mother says.

Bigger goal

Gatha kept shining at trials and once at Tata Academy Jharkhand, found herself in a 5-5 tie with Deepika Kumaru. (Photo Credit: World Archery)

Something Gatha’s coach told Dipali has stuck on though.

“He said ‘when you feel low, or relatives question your absence from functions, just remember that you are on national duty.’ I keep repeating that and feel OK,” Dipali says.

Gatha didn’t take long to make a mark. She kept shining at trials and once at Tata Academy Jharkhand, found herself in a 5-5 tie with Deepika.

“She lost the shoot-off, but Deepika told her, ‘you will go far in archery and succeed.’ Those words are her mantra,” Deepali recalls.

World Youth medals gave Gatha confidence to give senior trials. “She beat Koreans and was super-inspired to give trials at the Army Sports Institute. She hasn’t looked back since,” Dipali says, reeling off her successes in team and mixed team events.

It’s Gatha’s introverted personality that Dipali believes keeps her steady.

“She’s not distracted by anything. She doesn’t like mixing with people and is happier with books. She’s just very particular, even how she folds clothes. That helps in archery.”

While Pune is her base now, it’s those six-hour drives from Solapur, watching her mother keep it together, no matter what, that have shaped Gatha.

Dipali reckons she can fade into the background now that Gatha’s pathway is sorted. Even disappearing and getting off the steering wheel, she says, is just national duty.