'Her dream is to play in the Olympics,' says Kumkum Mohod's father
17-year-old archer Kumkum Mohod wins gold and silver at the Asian Games, setting her sights on the Olympics after a historic performance.
At just 17 years old, Kumkum Mohod has transformed from a young girl practicing with a bamboo bow into an Asian Games champion. After securing both a gold and a silver medal, the Amravati-born archer has become the talk of the nation, but her family says the most prestigious stage is still to come.
Following India's historic archery campaign in Aichi-Nagoya, Kumkum's father, Anil Mohod, expressed immense pride in his daughter's achievements. While the gold and silver medals are monumental milestones, he revealed that the teenager's ultimate goal remains unchanged: representing India at the Olympics.
A Historic Run in Aichi-Nagoya
Kumkum played a pivotal role in one of India's most significant archery moments. She was a key member of the Indian women's recurve team that scripted history by defeating the powerhouse South Korean squad 5-3 in the final. This victory secured India's first-ever medal in this specific event at the Asian Games.
The young archer's success did not stop there. She transitioned into the mixed recurve team event alongside Dhiraj Bommadevara, where the duo fought hard to secure a silver medal after a closely contested 3-5 loss to China in the final.
From Bamboo Bows to Gold Medals
The journey to the podium was far from easy. Anil Mohod recalled the humble beginnings of his daughter's career, noting that her training started in 2018 with a simple bamboo bow. It wasn't until 2022 that she transitioned to a professional recurve bow, the same equipment she uses to compete at the highest level today.
The path was also marked by significant hurdles, including financial struggles. "Obstacles kept coming up, there were financial issues too and others as well, but our coach helped us from time to time, and we got through all of it," Anil shared, noting that the atmosphere in their home is currently filled with joy.
Expert Praise: 'Hitting the Center Perfectly'
Kumkum's coach, Praful Dange, was effusive in his praise for her technical precision. He highlighted her incredible performance during the team event, where she demonstrated remarkable composure against the world's dominant archery nation, South Korea.
- Precision: During the championship match, Kumkum shot six out of five arrows directly into the 10-ring, hitting the center with near-perfect accuracy.
- Confidence: Dange noted that despite the pressure of facing the Korean team, Kumkum displayed immense confidence.
- Teamwork: The coach emphasized the seamless coordination between Kumkum, Ankita Bhakat, and Kirti Sharma, which was essential to their gold medal success.
Despite a minor setback in the mixed team event where a few arrows landed in the 8-ring, Dange remained optimistic about her individual prospects. Kumkum has advanced to the quarterfinals of the individual women's recurve event, placing her among the top eight archers in the competition.
A Pride for Amravati and Maharashtra
The success of the young athlete has resonated deeply within her home district. Ganesh Jadhav, the District Sports Officer, celebrated Kumkum as a shining example of the talent nurtured at the Khelo India Centre in Amravati.
"This is a matter of great pride for us in Amravati, and indeed for the entire country," Jadhav stated, acknowledging the hard work put in by both the athlete and her coaching staff. As Kumkum prepares for her individual quarterfinals, the eyes of Maharashtra and the nation remain fixed on her journey toward the Olympic dream.