2021 Tokyo Olympics | Meet your Olympians - Indian Archery Team

If any discipline can be deemed as a regular underperformer at the Olympics - for India - then Archery would claim the title hands down. India’s first appearance in Archery at the 1988 Seoul Games was marked by early exits, but it was a path breaker nonetheless. Gradual progression in the discipline simultaneously invited expectations at multi-sport events, especially the Olympics. Even though medals at the Asian Games came by, the Olympics were proving too far-fetched.

For now, four Archers have secured qualification for the 2021 Tokyo Olympics -

The Archer from Kolkata started his career at the age of 14, moving to the Tata Archery Academy four years later, in 2008, to train under Korean coach Lim Chae Wong. Breaking into the scene with a silver medal at the 2011 World Youth Championships was the only push he needed. However, the bronze-medal finish alongside Deepika Kumari in the mixed team event at the 2013 World Cup was when everyone took note of the young lad. Since then, it has been one-way traffic.

Tarundeep Rai (Men’s recurve individual, Men’s recurve team)

At 37, still going strong with the bow and arrow, Tarundeep is set to throw the last dice in his quest for an Olympic medal. The Archer is already a trendsetter, having claimed the first-ever silver medal at the Asian Games by an Indian, back in 2010, in Guangzhou. Signing off with a medal in what is expected to be his last major event will serve as a fitting epilogue to a 24-year-long illustrious career.

Pravin Jadhav (Men’s recurve individual, Men’s recurve team)

One of the relatively younger products in the circuit, Pravin’s entry into the foray was back in 2016 when he represented India at the 2016 World Cup in Bangkok. It was in the same event that he claimed a bronze medal in the men’s recurve team event. But, his career highlight still remains the appearance in the final at the 2019 World Championships, in the team event.

Pravin, who spent most of his lockdown days at the Army Sports Institute, in Pune, will be featuring in both men’s individual as well as the team event at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics. The 24-year old finished at the 15th spot in the 2021 World Cup Stage I in Guatemala City, which is not the best of displays. But with two months left for the Games to begin, there’s ample time to get in the best shape possible.

The most successful Indian archer in the past decade, Deepika Kumari has made headlines more often than not across his trophy-laden career. Her claim to fame arrived at the 2010 Commonwealth Games where she finished with two gold medals – individual and team events. Two years later, Deepika stormed to her first World Cup triumph and would also go on to become the top-ranked player in the world. That, unfortunately, did not have a huge impact on her display at the 2012 London Olympics, where she was shown the door in the opening round.