Ace archer and member of the Indian Olympic Contingent for the London Olympics 2012, Ms Deepika Kumari, has joined Tata Steel as a Manager in the Company’s Sports Department. The development is in line with the Company’s philosophy of identifying sporting talent, providing them with opportunities to perform to their optimum at the highest levels of the sport and augmenting their employability potential.

Several eminent sportspersons have been beneficiaries of such a philosophy and have brought laurels to the country after being nurtured by the Company. They include Ms Bachendri Pal, the first Indian woman to conquer Mt Everest and a Padmashree, Arjuna and National Adventure Award awardee, Mr Dibyendu Barua, Chess Grandmaster and Arjuna Awardee, Mr Charles Borromeo, Padmashree and Arjuna awardee, Mr Bagicha Singh, Arjuna awardee, and Mr Jayanta Talukdar, Archer representing India in the London Olympics 2012, among others.

Born in 1994, Deepika joined Tata Archery Academy in 2008 and has since honed her skills in archery in the academy. Sheer perseverance and commitment to the sport saw her becoming the Sub Junior Champion and Senior National Champion soon thereafter.

Deepika won the Gold Medal in the Youth World Championship in Turkey in 2008. She represented the Indian team that won the Silver Medal in the 1st Asian Archery Grand Prix held at Bangkok in 2009. She won the Silver Medal in World Cup Stage III held at Ogden in August 2010.

At the Delhi Commonwealth Games 2010, Deepika won the Gold in the individual event and a Bronze in the team event. She has represented India in the Asian Games 2010 held at China and won the Bronze Medal in the team event. Deepika, the current World No. 1, is representing India in the London Olympics 2012.