ഏഷ്യൻ ഗെയിംസ് നേട്ടങ്ങൾ മറന്ന് ലോസ് ഏഞ്ചൽസ് ഒളിമ്പിക്സ് സ്വപ്നത്തിലേക്ക് കുതിക്കാൻ കൗമാര താരം കുങ്കും അനിൽ മോഹ

The day Kumkum Anil Mohod returned home to Amravati, around 11 in the night, bearing three archery medals from the Asian Games 2026 in Japan, a host of people with big posters greeted her. But she was soon told to lock her exploits from Aichi-Nagoya in a corner of her mind, throw the key away, and look ahead.

"They (parents and coach) said 'Whatever has happened, forget it. This is not your dream. It's the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics. Stay grounded. You haven't done anything yet. Stay focussed on your work'," Kumkum told reporters during a press conference arranged by the Sports Authority of India (SAI).

It all started when she became the first-ever individual recurve champion, man or woman, from India at the Asian Games. The 17-year-old from Maharashtra did so by South Korea's Oh Yejin. The Indian teen was also part of the gold medal-winning women's team, which ended Korea's 28-year hegemony.

"I was nervous in the beginning. I hadn't faced so much media before. But now it feels good, a sense of pride is there. Before, we used to take pictures with others. Now, others want to take pictures with us," she continued.

She recalled the moment, the shoot-off during the women's individual recurve final, which eventually etched her name in the history books.

READ | Kumkum's arrows pierce Korea's four-decade stronghold as India's archers dominate Asiad

"My heartbeat was up. But I controlled my breathing and kept myself calm. I had been manifesting that exact moment," she began. "I don't see the opponent in front of me. Sab Korean Korean karte hai (Everyone talks about the South Koreans). But in the lead up to the match, I told myself that usko bhi 10 marna hai, mujhe bhi 10 marna hai (She also needs to hit a 10, and so do I). Whatever happens, I want to give my best."

Kumkum also acknowledged the sacrifices her parents have made ever since she took up the bow at the impressionable age of nine. It was her mother who put her into the sport after seeing another girl pursuing the sport. But the expenses involved in the game made it difficult in the early days.

"Earlier, my father urged me to focus on my studies. My grandmother had gifted me my first bow. The equipment is quite expensive. A recurve bow can cost nearly Rs. 3 lakh. But later, my father also started supporting me.

"There are some parents who like going around, enjoy themselves. But no matter what match I was playing -- district, state, or nationals -- they would be with me. They have always called me a champion. Even when I wasn't performing, they never told me to leave the sport. Even today, my father says I'll be the one creating history in LA," Kumkum explained.

While the youngster accepted that she has missed partaking in the usual shenanigans involved during teenage years, she does see the upsides of it.

" Mai toh kabhi kabhi bolti hu ghar mai, ki pura bachpan isme chala gaya, par achha hai. Aage jaake khuch dikkat nahi ayegi (I tell my family sometimes that my whole childhood went in archery. But it's good. It'll help going forward in life)," she chuckled.

Apart from her two gold medals, Kumkum also bagged a silver which came in the recurve mixed team. She was partnering her idol and senior Dhiraj Bommadevara. The duo fell short against the Chinese pair in the final, but Dhiraj had a role in motivating Kumkum in her pursuit of greatness.

"It was a great experience being paired up with him. He had told me to enjoy the competition, irrespective of whether we win or lose. He said 'if you make a mistake, that's my fault. And if I make a mistake, that's the coach's fault.' He asked me to shoot the arrows without any pressure.

"Before my (individual) match, he texted me 'Focus on yourself. Don't worry who's in front of you. Behave like a champion'," Kumkum recalled.

The Maharashtra archer is currently participating in the second season of the Archery Premier League as part of the Chero Archers team. When the edition concludes on October 18, there will be a few weeks' time before the Senior Nationals come calling. But this gap isn't a signal for Kumkum to rest on her laurels.

"I need to work on a few technical things, build on my strength in the gym everyday, and also, work on my mental conditioning," she listed out, while adding that not training for a few days can make her hands shake.

More importantly, she's aware that the Olympic quota she secured with the Asiad gold is that of India's, and not hers.

"The Olympic trials will take place next year, and I'll begin preparing for that. I'll keep repeating the right things and correct the wrongs.

"If I do well, I'll go to the Olympics. But if I keep pressurising myself with that, then it will get difficult. If I don't take too much tension, I'll surely get selected and get back a medal," Kumkum said matter-of-factly.