From Ballet to Bull’s-eye: Aditi targets Olympic glory

Lucknow: Jharkhand’s Raj Aditi Kumari, a former ballet dancer turned compound archer, clinched gold in the junior category at the 4th Khelo India Women’s National Ranking Archery Tournament at the KD Singh ‘Babu’ Stadium on Sunday.After winning the Khelo India Women’s National Ranking Archery Tournament in Gujarat, Aditi, 20, has seen a swift rise, but she keeps her target fixed far beyond the podium finish in Lucknow. “I want to win a medal for India in the Olympics and at the World Championship,” she said.Her entry into archery, she said, was less a decision and more a moment that found her. “I did not choose archery; archery chose me,” Aditi recalled. “In Class 7, during what was supposed to be an English period, my English teacher wasn’t present and my sports teacher—who was also an archery coach—walked in and began selecting girls because there weren’t many in the sport at my school. I was picked, asked my parents, and got a yes.”“My motivation comes from my parents and coach. They are not just motivating me; my parents have always supported me,” Aditi said.