Ace archer Deepika Kumari’s parents are keeping their fingers crossed for her performance at Rio Olympics 2016. While her father has gone to Tryambakeshwar temple located in Nasik at Maharashtra to offer special prayer for her success, her mother is visiting Mazars and local Temples in Ranchi for her victory.
Excited about her performance at International arena, Deepika’s father, Shivnarayan Mahto, over the phone from Nasik, said, “Though every year, I visit Tryambakeshwar temple at Nasik with my family members and friends but this year, the religious trip is important as my daughter will perform at Brazil. With the hope that she clinches medal and bring laurel to the nation, I am planning to visit Shirdi Baba at Pune and the Mahakaal temple at Bombay.”
Mahato till date ferries passengers in his auto-rickshaw from Ratu to Ranchi. His only wish is to see her daughter grabbing medal at the biggest sporting event. “I have strong faith on God, though her performance in last Olympics at london was not upto the mark but this year she will perform, I am confident about it. Special puja and rituals will be carried out at various pilgrimages by us. However, at the end of the day her dedication towards sport will earn her the coveted title anyway,” added Mahato.
Though Deepika’s mother, Geeta Devi is not a part of the religious trip this time but is visiting all the temples, Mazars and other sacred places in the state capital with the hope and desire that her daughter hits the bull’s eye this time.
Geeta, who serves as nurse at a Community Health Centre at Ratu, traveled approximately 20 Km to the pious Reshaldaal Baba Dargaah at Doranda on Friday. She also religiously performs Hawan and Abhishek at Pahari Temple on all Mondays during this auspicious month.
Notably, Deepika could not perform well at the london Olympics 2012. Shooting with fever and in strong wind, Deepika lost to her counterpart Amy Oliver of Great Britain in the opening round. Yet she was ranked world No.1 in Archery in 2012. This is year sharing the space with another archer, laxmirani Majhi and after practicing for four long years, Deepika has entered the sporting dome with confidence.