Dhoni fan Prithika gears up for Asian Games archery debut

Prithika Pradeep lines up a shot during the Archery Premier League. | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

Former India cricket captain M.S. Dhoni’s calmness inspires Asian Games-bound archer Prithika Pradeep.

“My favourite is M.S. Dhoni; I admire him a lot. Novak Djokovic is also my favourite. But I like Dhoni’s mindset, calmness and quick decision-making. I read a lot of books on him,” Prithika, a World Youth and 2025 World Cup Stage silver medallist, told Sportstar.

The 17-year-old made her mark by topping the Asiad selection trials and then securing individual bronze and team silver at the World Cup Stage-4 in Madrid this year.

Born in Nagercoil, Prithika was brought up in Pune and took to archery as a hobby because she liked the name of the sport. Presently, she is sharpening her skills alongside experienced teammates in V. Jyothi Surekha and Chikitha Taniparthi at the Sonipat camp.

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“After winning the Madrid medals, I have gained confidence. But now that is over. I have to focus on the Asian Games. Here, I get to learn by training with the seniors. They share their experience. Jyothi didi tells me to stay calm and give my best without taking pressure,” Prithika said.

Prithika said last year’s inaugural Archery Premier League, where archers got 15 seconds instead of 20 to shoot an arrow, also helped her. “It gave me confidence. I enjoyed it. Exposure to foreign archers was also beneficial as they shared their experience.”

While fine-tuning her individual game, Prithika — going through the routine of meditation, warm-up, training, playing matches and gym work — is giving equal attention to teamwork. “We also train for team events — both women’s and mixed teams, as we pair up with different male archers,” she said.