Eyes on target, Komalika aims beyond Raipur

Raipur: Jamshedpur archer Komalika Bari is honing her skills for the 2026 Asian Games selection trials while competing at the inaugural Khelo India Tribal Games in Raipur. The 24-year-old Jharkhand recurve archer, the second Indian woman to hold both World Cadet and World Junior titles simultaneously, remains a top prospect for India despite senior-circuit hurdles.From the top 16 at Pune's national coaching camp, Bari focuses on technical tweaks and mental conditioning for high-pressure moments. "I'm preparing seriously for the Asian Games selection," she said. "I want to gain experience by participating in as many competitions as possible while maintaining my training schedule." Her ultimate target is the 2028 Olympics.Bari's journey began at 12 in Birsanagar, training with a bamboo bow after her family couldn't afford professional gear in 2012.Matching Deepika Kumari's 2021 feat, Bari sees mental resilience as key to overcome slumps. At Raipur, she competes in individual, team, and mixed-team events — a silver medalist from the 2020 Khelo India University Games.