Ladies First Page #2

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The 2012 Olympics was the first time

I went to London.

I had high expectations because

I was World Number 1 at the time

and I was performing well.

So, I expected to bring home a medal. The ground was pulled from under my feet.

I felt it was over too soon.

I didn't get a chance to soak it all in.

The women's number one world archer,

Deepika Kumari,

has crashed out of the London Olympics.

If I wanted to act pricey,

I wouldn't have given any interviews.

I am tired. My head is hurting.

She felt demoralized after London

and became very negative.

She lost her place in the team,

and was very upset about that.

I used to cry all day in my room.

I went into depression.

I wouldn't eat, drink or anything.

I started performing badly.

My performance graph kept fluctuating.

I started losing hope.

I thought of quitting.

That was the time my neighbors

started to gossip.

"Where is she getting all this money

from?" "What is she really doing?"

That's how narrow-minded they are.

They still taunt my parents.

"You shouldn't have

allowed your daughter to get into sports.

You should have kept her at home."

I lost a lot of self-confidence.

In Europe, there's less gender inequality.

In India, the roles are clearly divided,

this is a man's job, that's a woman's job.

Therefore, women lack confidence.

You can see how confident women

in the West are from their attitude.

If we give our girls a chance

to come forward and express

themselves their confidence will rise.

In our country, even those

who are well-educated believe

the girls

cannot play sports.

In my opinion, they are crazy

because their thinking

is extremely regressive.

In my opinion,

people often throw around the term,

"ladies first."

So, when girls want to advance in life,

be it in education or sports,

why not say "ladies first,"

when it really counts?

Do they actually believe girls are weak

or incompetent?

I believe they are afraid of us

that if we are given freedom

we will surpass them and go so far ahead

they won't be able to see us at all.

There is so much pressure on her

to win a gold medal.

If it was me,

I would crumble under the pressure.

I don't know how she handles it.

When she's here at TATA,

she's sharp and focused.

But when she competes abroad,

I don't know what affects her.

She loses her nerve and confidence.

Archery is a mental game,

so it's important to have a mental coach.

That should improve my performance.

Deepika needs

a mental coach desperately...

...and from day one, not a month

or two before the Olympics.

If we want to win an Olympic medal,

we need to prepare well in advance.

Korean archers are mentally strong. It's

not that they're better skilled than us,

just that they are mentally stronger.

London 2012 to Rio 2016,

four years seems like a long time,

for any normal person.

But my coach said,

"Rio 2016 is just around the corner

so start preparing

and working hard now

as time flies."

So, I told myself, what's done is done,

you can't change the past.

I'm strong enough

and I believe in myself to know

that I'll never return to my old life.

I'll keep working hard,

giving up is not an option.

This time I'm going to fight!

We had seven Olympic trials.

Deepika broke the world record

in the first three trials.

At the World Cup in Shanghai,

she equaled the existing world record.

We're 99 percent sure

she'll win an Olympic medal.

She should have been selected

right then and there.

Actually I don't want to talk about it,

thank you.

I don't make many friends...

as I want to focus only on one thing,

an Olympic gold medal.

I never talk about how hard I work.

I just want to give my 100 percent

and win that medal!

The Korean team was selected

three months before the Olympics.

We need a selection committee in place

for selection and

to create a schedule.

Otherwise with trials every 15 days

and also a World Cup,

there is no time for recovery.

Therefore, an injury is inevitable.

This lack of planning by our authorities

caused Deepika to suffer

a shoulder injury.

I have an appointment with the doctor.

Maybe we will go to Delhi

or after coming back to Mumbai.

The appointment is confirmed.

It's a nightmare to get injured

a few days before the Olympics.

Tell me, what's the matter? When I draw my bow,

it hurts here.

So, I'm not able to pull back.

When I get to this position,

it's very painful--

Whenever she reaches the end

and flicks it and tries to release

that time no pain.

It hurts at this point.

Let me explain.

I'm the one feeling the pain.

It looks like, most probably,

bicipital tendinitis.

-I'm not feeling well.

-What?

-I don't feel so good.

-You have food, then you can sleep.

-You lie down.

-Come.

Lie down.

She'll lie down for some time.

-You need water?

-I think I'm going to throw up.

I have pain in my right shoulder.

I need to fix it at any cost.

I can't let the authorities' apathy

hamper my chances.

But anyway, I'm very excited

to leave for the Olympics

and represent India.

Maybe I'm the girl who will bring home

a medal for India.

I'm sure my Mum will be praying to God

during my matches in Rio.

"Help my daughter win!"

My Dad is going on a pilgrimage to Shirdi.

I've been to every place of worship

so that my daughter returns victorious

and does Jharkhand proud.

I request the media to also pray for her

to come home a winner.

I don't know why I'm crying.

Maybe these are tears of joy

in anticipation of good news.

I just hope I don't feel any pain.

Hope this won't lead to pain.

It hurts.

A lot?

It hurts when I release...

after holding it in this position.

Deepika was at her peak

during the first three trials

where she broke the world record.

Then she got injured

and lost sensation in her shoulder.

Without pain she shoots fine,

with pain she gets nervous.

Her mental focus wavers

when she doesn't shoot well.

She forgets to use her elbow.

She's not able to do it the first time.

Only sometimes she is able to.

She shouldn't merely

rely on her wrist.

She should exert power

from her shoulder and elbow.

You have to control your wrist.

You have to close the gap

between your forearm and shoulder.

Keep your wrist in...

and use your elbow as an anchor.

That will improve your shooting

and you'll consistently hit the X.

When the gap increases,

it means you're using your wrist.

Someone's calling.

Please come in.

I've been wondering

when you would call

as I've been waiting to speak to you.

Be confident.

Okay?

Feel the confidence within, okay?

Okay.

I wish you luck.

May God bless you.

I pray

I don't feel any pain during my matches

so I can concentrate fully on my game

and perform well.

How did you feel after Rio?

After Rio?

Just that after working so hard

and then losing,

and the burden of loss

is a heavy cross to bear.

Please don't ask me that question.

You feel bad when...

wherever you go...

you don't

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