Padma Shri ace archer Deepika Kumari has resigned from Tata Steel ending her association with the company from 11 years. Deepika, the only Indian woman in the list of top ten world archers, will now join Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) at Pune from August this year.

Interacting with media at JRD Tata sports complex on Thursday afternoon, the Arjuna Award winner (2012) thanked Tata Steel for the continuous support.

She joined Tata Archery Academy in 2008 and had sets many records in her name.

Expressing her happiness over her association with Tata Steel, she said that she spent her life at the company like a family and each one supported her. “Keeping in my mind my professional and personal life, I have decided to join Bharat Petroleum and since my husband is from Kolkata, we both plan to stay together and focus on professional life,” she said.  

A former world junior champion and double gold winner in the 2010 Delhi commonwealth games, Deepika said that the values and support system of the company helped her hone skills and perform better.

On the occasion, Chanakya Chaudhary, vice president, corporate services, Tata Steel extended his best wishes to Deepika and said: “On Tata Steel’s behalf, I want to thank her for bringing us this glory.

Tata Steel for many decades has supported sports. I wish Deepika many more success in future.”

Tata Steel had appointed Deepika, a former cadet of Tata Archery Academy, as manager in its sports department soon before her departure to London for participation in Olympics in 2012.

The Tata Archery Academy, established in Jamshedpur in 1996, has produced some of the most eminent Indian archers who have gone on to win national and international honors.

The Academy offers a Four Year Residential Training Programme that emphasises on technical and tactical training to help learners gain a better understanding of the sport and its success strategies.