Archer Chikitha’s Asiad aim: Medal, harvester for dad & toy for mentor

HYDERABAD: After faltering twice, 21-year-old compound archer Chikitha Rao Taniparthi finally earned her breakthrough moment by securing selection for the Asian Games. Having narrowly missed out on the 2023 Asian Games and last year’s World Championships, Chikitha is now determined to achieve three dreams, win gold for India, buy a new harvester for her farmer father, and gift the Asian Games mascot plushie to her mentor, Abhishek Verma.While her father, Srinivasa Rao, sold the family’s harvester to support her training, Abhishek Verma himself failed to qualify in the men’s selection trials. Chikitha, however, sealed her place in India’s squad for theAsian Games, scheduled to be held in Aichi Prefecture and Nagoya, Japan, from September 19 to October 4.In doing so, she also became the first archer from Telangana to represent India at the event. Alongside Vijayawada’s Jyothi Surekha Vennam, she will spearhead India’s compound archery campaign.The reigning U-21 world champion is currently training at the Sports Authority of India (SAI) centre in Sonepat. Reflecting on her journey, Chikitha said she had come agonisingly close to selection on previous occasions as well.“I came close to representing India in the 2023 Asian Games too. I was tied for the third spot but finished fourth by just 0.25 points in the trials. Even for last year’s World Championships, I again finished fourth after tying for third. It was disappointing, but now I’m very happy to have finally made the Indian team,” she told TOI from Sonepat.Hailing from Sultanpur village in Peddapalli district, Chikitha is also a karate black belt and has tried badminton in the past. However, it was archery that eventually captured her imagination after she first picked up a bow in Class VIII. Despite the lack of infrastructure in her village, her determination never wavered.“We wanted her to pursue an individual sport so she could make a name for herself. Initially, we knew nothing about archery, but we never gave up. We researched extensively and travelled to different places to learn more,” said her father, Srinivasa Rao.To find proper coaching facilities, Srinivasa Rao travelled with Chikitha and her brother, Yashwanth Rao, also a national-level archer across Maharashtra and Delhi before finally settling in the capital. After several attempts, renowned compound archer Abhishek Verma agreed to mentor her.“Travelling with two children was expensive. I couldn’tafford hotels or regular travel costs, so I had to borrow money,” recalled Srinivasa Rao, whose only source of income comes from cultivating his three-acre farmland.Chikitha later joined the SAI academy in Sonepat after winning a silver medal and a mixed team bronze at the subjunior nationals in Amaravati, Maharashtra. She went on to clinch gold at the 37th National Games in 2023 before earning global recognition by winning the 2025 World Archery Youth Championships in Winnipeg, Canada, becoming the first Indian to achieve the feat.Speaking about the Asian Games trials, Chikitha credited her mentor for helping her overcome a difficult start.“I’m extremely thankful to Abhishek anna. I was only 13th on the first day, but he kept motivating me throughout the trials. I owe this achievement to him. He has always been my inspiration, and I took up archery because of him. We train together at the SAI Academy in Sonepat,” she said.A second-year BA Honours student at Lovely Professional University, Chikitha now has her eyes firmly set on the podium in Japan. “When we travelled for my training, my father sold his harvester. I want to win a medal and buy him a new one. And Abhishek anna told me that if I win gold, I should bring back the Asian Games mascot toy from the podium as a gift for him,” she said with a smile.