IIn 2012, Deepti Kumari was representing India in an international archery tournament in Ogden, Utah. Today she is pouring hot tea at Agra Chowk in Ranchi, Jharkhand. Archery is the last thing on his mind. Now he has a debt of Rs 7 lakh, a broken bow and shattered dreams of winning gold at the Olympics and the World Archery Championships.
Stealing a few minutes from a busy day serving customers, Dipti heads to the neighborhood range where she learns archery with her friends. A new generation of children is now learning to use the bow and arrow. They don’t recognize her – almost everyone has forgotten that Deepti Kumari was once a national, award-winning archer. His eyes light up when he sees children holding bows. But the brightness only emphasizes the helplessness lurking in the background.
“When I am very upset, I come on the field. I have got some relief here. It’s great to watch these kids play. I could have played too, but I am not compelled because of my position,” says the 25-year-old, her hands floating over the arrows of a junior player.
Dipti’s Downfall is the story of many talented sportspersons in India who challenge and train their bodies and minds, but are unable to overcome their debilitating poverty that hinders their development. This is a story of the government’s inability to identify, nurture and handle sporting talent and the lack of an enabling ecosystem. athlete Geeta Kumar who had to sell vegetables in his hometown Ramgarh District and National Karate Champion of Jharkhand Bimla Munda Those selling rice beer in Ranchi are some of the other players who have met the same fate.
Deepti started participating in archery tournaments in 2006. His mother took a loan of Rs 7 lakh from a self-help group in 2012 and used Rs 4.5 lakh to buy an international-class bow. Dhanush broke while participating in an international tournament in the US that year. Deepti had to sit out of the tournament and returned to Ranchi where debt awaited her.
He switched to a bamboo bow, but this automatically made him ineligible to participate in international tournaments.
Deepti, who has won more than a hundred national medals, says, ‘I used to play with a bamboo bow, but then the economic condition of the house started deteriorating, so I had to leave the sport and open a tea stall.’ Even after serving tea and snacks for years, she is repaying the loan with a weekly installment of Rs 1,000.
“As a competitive archer, I was a winner. But now when I sell tea, I lose every day,” says Deepti, serving tea to a customer in an earthen cup.
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mountain of debt
To run the tea stall, Dipti took another loan of Rs 60,000 from her friends, using her father’s wheeled stall.
With the new loan, he put a tin roof on the stall in the hope that it would attract more customers. A bright red chilli stands out with the name ‘Chilli, Simple Samosa’ in white letters.
After Dipti’s story went viral, a local social worker gave her Rs 25,000, which she used to repay her friends. Despite all the harsh lessons she has learned from life, Deepti has not given up hope of playing again.
“If I get a chance, I can still make the country proud. I would take 15 days to practice, but have responsibilities at home,” she says. His mother is a heart patient, who recently had a “kidney surgery”. His sister has a stomach ache but after several tests there is no diagnosis. For this also the family has taken many loans.
About 15 minutes away from her tea shop, she rents a room and shares a bathroom with ten other tenants for a rent of Rs 2,000 a month. About 30 medallions hang on a blank wall—a daily reminder of her past life. “Sometimes my brother or sister-in-law comes to stay with me. But otherwise I am mostly alone.”
Dipti can’t afford the two-hour commute to Lohardaga, where her parents, two brothers and three sisters live. The family survives on the income of his elder brother who drives an autorickshaw. Until recently, her sister worked as a sales person at a local store, but lost her job after becoming ill. She also used to participate in district level tournaments, but seeing Deepti’s struggle, she gave up.
past glory days
Back in Lohardaga, Dipti’s mother Sita is happy remembering the ‘glory days’. Certificates, trophies and medals adorn the walls and cabinets in this three-room house. Sita is only 45, but years of poverty and despair have taken a toll on her health.
“I used to work as a laborer to help Dipti. When my body did not support me, I begged people for money,” she says. Whenever Dipti participated in tournaments in other cities, Sita would give her 100 rupees.
“She played very well, and came home with a medal every time. We used to think that once she made a name for herself, our condition would improve,” says Sita.
Dipti’s youngest brother, a teenager, still dreams of becoming a national level archer, and is currently playing at the state level. He had returned from a tournament in Rajasthan in early January. He wears Dipti’s old tracksuit.
“You took the tracksuits I like. I had to wear them too,” he tells Dipti.
“I’ll take them back when I come again,” she replies calmly.
Read also: Archer Deepika Kumari’s remarkable journey – from bamboo bow and arrow to World No.1
big promises, little hope
Deepti learned archery from a school teacher and joined the Tata Archery Academy in Jamshedpur.
“I introduced my cousin Deepika Kumari to archery,” she claims. Deepika, who hails from Ranchi, is currently ranked 24th in the world rankings (recurve women). Deepika missed Deepti in Utah in 2012 reached No. 1 ranking in the world of archery and got it back Top spot in 2021.
“We would practice all night. I am happy for her that she got a job as well as a name. It is her hard work,” Deepti says with grace and dignity.
on January 23, for first timeJharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren presented appointment letters to 27 sportspersons – 17 women and 10 men – for government jobs under the state’s sports quota. Four of them were archers. All the successful candidates will now work as constable in Jharkhand Police. Deepti had also applied, but she was not selected.
CM Soren had said at the function in Ranchi, “The sportspersons who have not received the appointment letters should not be disheartened as the government is working on an action plan for all of them.”
In September last year, the state government launched a new Jharkhand Sports Policy 2022, aimed at “reducing hurdles from the path of sportspersons”. But it was of no use to Deepti.
“The government says it will give jobs to national and international medal winners, but the policy makes it clear that jobs can only be given to those who have won international medals and are recognized by the Indian Olympic Association. a source in the sports ministry told ThePrint. Deepti does not meet the criteria as she has not won any international tournament.
Launching the policy, CM Soren admitted that many players in Jharkhand win national and international competitions with limited resources.
Deepti took out a letter signed by Sanjay Seth, BJP MP from Ranchi. Dated November 2022, Seth promises that the government will equip him with a bow.
But so far, the gift has remained elusive.
“So far we don’t know anything about it. If it comes to our notice, we will definitely do something,” says Jharkhand Sports Minister Haifizul Hasan.
Deepti can only wait now.
“I hope the government will help me. I am not begging for anything. I have talent and I can do something for my country. All I need is a little support,” she says.
Steam rises from a pot of tea boiling on the stove. As she leans towards it, Deepti looks out onto the street. Cars of many leaders and senior officials passed by his stall every day, but no one ever paid attention to him.
(Edited by Prashant)