From jet lag to WCF gold: Archer B Dhiraj looks to build on success at Asian Games

Dhiraj has covered nearly 25,000 kilometres in six days, but that has not hampered his quest for excellence. | Photo Credit: R.K.Nithin

Recurve archer B. Dhiraj, who overcame fatigue from 35 hours of air travel and unusually windy conditions in Saltillo, Mexico, to win the World Cup Final (WCF) gold medal, said the achievement would boost his confidence for future competitions, including the upcoming Asian Games.

Dhiraj, the second Indian to claim a WCF gold after Dola Banerjee’s feat in 2007, said it was a dream-come-true moment for him.

“Archers dream of qualifying for the WCF, in which the top eight archers in the world compete. Winning the title is even more special. This is a boost not just for the Asian Games, but for my career,” Dhiraj told Sportstar after reaching Japan from Mexico and joining India’s Asian Games preparatory camp in Kurobe on Tuesday, having covered nearly 25,000 km across the globe in six days.

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Dhiraj spoke about the challenges he faced. “It was a long haul, we travelled around 35 hours (from India to Mexico). There was fatigue. But after competing in so many events, the physios and support staff knew what I should do during travel so that I could recover faster. It took a day or two, but I recovered well.

“The venue was a little unusual. It was windy and we could not judge from which side the wind was coming. But we trained for that in India. I took it as a challenge and fought well.”

Dhiraj underscored his continuous quest for technical excellence. “I have been doing certain things consistently for the last two years. Some days they work, some days they don’t. There have been small improvements. I will keep doing the same things and add new things after consulting the coaches.

“We get confidence when we do well on a big stage. When you train in a certain way and execute it in pressure situations in a match, it feels nice. Good to see my dreams coming true and it motivates me to dream more, work harder and help keep the Indian flag flying high,” he said.