Atanu Das displayed his calm, grit and strength to put on one of the finest displays in his career as he advanced to the quarterfinal of the Archery men’s event in Tokyo Olympics 2020.
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The Tokyo Olympics 2020 was proving to be a difficult campaign for Atanu Das. He was in the 30th position after the end of the ranking round. To compound his woes, Atanu had crashed out of the men’s team event with India losing to South Korea 6-0. The ranking determines the difficulty of the opponent that he will face. Lower the ranking, the chances of reaching the medal round becomes incredibly tough. Atanu was facing Oh Jin Hyek.
It would have been easier for many people to give up hope. South Korea is the dominant team in Archery, having won gold medals consecutively in the sport since the 80s. Oh Jin Hyek, Atanu’s opponent, was a 2012 gold medal winner in the London Olympics. He was the world champion from 2013 to 2014. The odds were heavily stacked against Atanu Das.
Atanu had lost the first set 26-25 as a couple of eights cost him. Oh Jin Hyek was consistently hitting nines and 10s. After three sets, Oh Jin Hyuk was up 4-2. But, Atanu showed in the next two sets that he was in momentum and rhythm. He notched up six straight nines. Oh Jin Hyuk, on the other hand, struck an eight in the third set that hurt him.
The decisive point, at that time, came in the fourth set. The momentum suddenly deserted Oh Jin Hyuk. He shot a seven and six in a disastrous set. Atanu notched up another nine and 10 to win the set. Oh Jin Hyuk, stunned by that set, roared back to form to shoot 28. But, Atanu, sensing that panic had set in, kept calm and notched up a 28 to level the match and take it to the shootout. The stakes were incredibly high. The one who shot the highest arrow would win the match.
The Tokyo Olympics 2020 is a culmination of years of hurt Atanu has suffered. From being denied a berth in his first trial, Atanu had to put in the hard hours. In an exclusive last year, Atanu revealed his work regime. 800 archery shots in 24 hours for six to seven months. That is 50 archery shots in a minute, almost one arrow per minute. 16 hours of practice, with short breaks and sleep. The hurt started after the disappointment of Rio.
In Rio 2016, Atanu was just one point away from the medal but he faltered. Five years later, with the coronavirus pandemic postponing the games and stalling his momentum, he was at the same position again. Oh Jin Hyuk scored a nine. Atanu had to hit the bullseye. All that pain of Rio, the denial of his dream on his first trial, and the disappointment of Tokyo so far was all channeled into one shot.
Atanu held his nerve and shot the perfect 10. The incredible was achieved. A South Korean archer was knocked out of the tournament. An Indian had entered the quarterfinal. The fact that he defeated a South Korean, a gold medalist and world champion, is already one of the stories of the Olympics so far. When one channels the hurt in the right direction, it can lead to miraculous results.
Atanu may or may not win a medal. But, for everyone who knows the journey that he has undergone, this result is a fitting tribute. Atanu will next face Japan’s Takaharu Furukawa, another world champion. The home favorite will be gunning for a medal in his home country. But, Atanu is aware of what will happen. South Korea and Japan will be the key opponents in his quest for a medal.
Even if Atanu does not win a medal, his efforts should be appreciated. If we think that he has come back empty-handed, then our vision and views are very myopic. The journey of Atanu and even his wife Deepika Kumari is simply sensational. Deepika is also on the cusp of a medal and everything will be determined tomorrow. They may win a medal, they may not win a medal. But, Deepika and Atanu are laying the groundwork for an archery revolution in India. One hopes that it is sustained and that there is an investment after the Olympics. Convenience in this factor will be regretted.
