Archery coach Purnima Mahato, who became the first female sportsperson from Jharkhand to be conferred the prestigious Dronacharya Award, has said that winning Olympic gold medal for India is biggest dream of her life and she will put her heart and soul to prepare the Indian team to strive for it.
“I am really excited to have been bestowed with the prestigious Dronacharya Award but my biggest dream of life is to ensure an Olympic gold for my country. Our team has been performing exceptionally well in the international circuit however, Olympic gold medal still remains distant from us. My next aim is to prepare the cadets in a way that they will win Olympic gold,” said Mahato, after being felicitated by Tata Steel on winning Dronacharya award during a function at JRD Tata sports complex. “Our players are in good form and if they maintain it and shoot well, the chances of winning a medal will be brighter,” said Mahto, the 1993 Bangkok Asian Grand Prix gold medalist.
“Winning medal in Olympics is a dream for me and I would like to prepare my team for give their best performance so far. I am working to improve my performance and hit harder. Olympics is the most prestigious tournament. I have hopes of a medal in the sport where the greatest exponents of our country have won top awards,” she noted. Congratulating Purnima Mahato, TV Narendran, vice president, Safety and Flat Products, Tata Steel, said: ‘Purnima deserves the award for her outstanding contribution to promotion and winning medal at international meets for years. We are extremely happy and feel proud of her’.
When questioned about the promotion of archery in the country Mahato Tata Steel and Tata Archery Academy have played an important role in promoting the sport however other sports authorities and Government should also promote the game in similar fashion.
Mahato, who joined Tata Steel in 1994, and senior coach at Tata Archery Academy, received the prestigious award for her excellence in coaching and raising the standards of archery in India. The Dronacharya Award is the ultimate recognition awarded by the country in sports to coaches. Purnima Mahato has been one of the most successful coaches in guiding Indian Archery teams in the International arena. In 2005, she accompanied the Indian Archery team to Spain for the 43rd Senior World Outdoor Archery Championship where India won a Silver medal. She was the coach of the Indian team which won a Gold medal for the boy’s event and a Bronze Medal for the girl’s at the Senior Asian Archery Championship held in China in 2007. Her some latest achievements as a coach includes - 2012 Asian Grand Prix Archery Championship, Bangkok - Girls Team SIlVER; 2012 World Cup Stage 2, ANTAlYA - Deepika Kumari GOlD; 2012 Olympic Games london - Participated.