Gatha within the making: Teen archer set for World Cup debut

Jun 22, 2025 06:56 PM IST

The 15-year-old from Maharashtra has earned a spot within the Indian ladies’s recurve staff for subsequent month’s World Cup Stage 4 in Madrid and the World Championship in Gwangju in September

Mumbai: Even although it wasn’t amongst her fondest recollections, archer Gatha Khadake vividly remembers the change of phrases with Deepika Kumari on the National Games in Uttarakhand this February. Years junior to India’s star archer in each age and expertise, Gatha had simply misplaced to her within the semi-final after forcing a shoot-off – Deepika shot a ten to Gatha’s 8 – on the finish of a deadlocked 5-5 scoreline. It was the primary time Gatha had stepped onto the sphere to compete in opposition to the four-time Olympian, and he or she walked away feeling considerably crestfallen regardless of the robust tussle.

Gatha Khadake was considered one of two teenagers from Maharashtra who triggered a stir in recurve on the just lately held choice trials. (HT)

“I used to be a bit unhappy, however she (Deepika) informed me, ‘Don’t fear, you’ll be round to play much more,’” Gatha recalled.

Just a few months on, the 15-year-old has earned a spot alongside the 31-year-old Deepika within the Indian ladies’s recurve staff for subsequent month’s World Cup Stage 4 in Madrid and the World Championship in Gwangju in September.

Gatha was considered one of two teenagers from Maharashtra – Sharvari Shende, additionally 15, being the opposite – who triggered a stir in recurve on the just lately held choice trials. Surging forward of Deepika and Ankita Bhakat within the qualification spherical, Gatha completed third within the elimination spherical behind the Paris Olympians and forward of Sharvari (who will solely function within the World Cup). The two teenagers additionally booked tickets to the World Youth Championships throughout a busy couple of weeks full of back-to-back trials.

Gatha’s reward was a call-up for 3 main occasions – her first style of worldwide archery.

“I’m enthusiastic about taking part in my first worldwide match,” Gatha mentioned. “I labored actually onerous for it, and I’m pleased that it got here via within the trials.”

Hard work is a trait this soft-spoken teen has developed over time, inspired by the assist and sacrifice of her household – particularly her mom, Dipali, who, like her father Anandrao, is a watch surgeon.

Growing up in Tembhurni, a village in Solapur district, Gatha was fascinated by house science. When she wasn’t studying about taking pictures stars, she was taking pictures arrows, having been launched to archery on the age of seven. Soon, her curiosity tilted decisively towards the latter.

As her ardour and ability grew, coaching in Tembhurni was not sufficient. Pune, a 160-kilometre drive from her village, was a greater choice – however with twin sisters 5 years youthful than her at residence and each mother and father practising docs, it was an advanced one.

That’s when Dipali determined to surrender her medical follow and curtail time together with her youthful kids to assist Gatha’s archery ambitions. For a number of years, Gatha would journey twice or thrice every week from Tembhurni to Pune to coach.

“The journey was lengthy, however the second I began taking pictures, all of the tiredness would go away,” Gatha mentioned.

Last yr, with home medals signalling higher promise, the mother-daughter duo moved to Pune and started dwelling in a rented flat close to the Archers Academy, the place she is coaching below coaches Ranjeet Chamle and Ram Shinde. Gatha now visits residence solely on some weekends – these are additionally the few instances Dipali will get to be together with her 10-year-old daughters.

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