Kumari, Das training with renowned Korean coach Kim in Olympic push

In a push to make it to next summer’s Olympics, power couple Deepika Kumari and Atanu Das are spending three weeks of the winter training with renowned coach Kim Hyung-Tak in Korea.

“The hunger and desire to win that elusive Olympic medal is very much intact,” Deepika told the Press Trust of India.

The pair have left their 11-month-old daughter at home in a bid to reach peak form before selections for the Indian team that will attempt to win more quota places for the country in early 2024 and – if successful – compete in Paris.

Dhiraj Bommadevara secured India’s lone ticket so far in Bangkok last month.

While Das appeared in some events for his nation this year, Kumari just missed out during trials, which took place shortly after she became a mother. The pair is banking on coach Kim’s input to put them back on top. 

“He’s an ocean of knowledge and every top archer has, at some point, sought his help,” said Atanu. “His training is very high-tech and effective, primarily focusing on maintaining consistency.”

This is the fourth time that Das has spent time at the school after 2015, 2017 and 2018.

Coach Kim was the first full-time coach employed by the Korean archery association, leading the squad that made the nation’s Olympic debut at Los Angeles 1984. He subsequently trained Chinese Taipei before opening his private school in 2004.

Reporting from an article by Tapan Mohanta for PTI.