Archery: Aditi Swami’s rapid journey from a budding star to becoming World Champion

There was a certain tension within the Swami household in Satara, Maharashtra. It was quite unlike anything they had ever experienced before.

On Saturday, three members in the family were perched in front of the television screen, watching the fourth compete at the 2023 World Archery Championships in Berlin.

“We were a bit apprehensive,” Gopichand Swami told Scroll, about watching the action unfold.

But his daughter – Aditi Swami, competing some 6,500 kms away from home in Germany, did not have any such inhibitions.

All of 17, Aditi scripted history in the German capital as she became the youngest-ever individual archery world champion, winning the women’s individual compound event. The win also made her the first Indian to win an individual gold medal at the World Championships – Ojas Deotale would win the men’s crown a few hours later.

“When we spoke to her before the finals day, she was very confident,” Gopichand said.

That conversation took place on Friday, when Aditi teamed up with Jyothi Vennam and Parneet Kaur to win the gold medal in the women’s team compound event – India’s first ever gold medal in the history of the Archery World Championships.

In fact, before winning the team gold, the teenager had told her family that she will “100% win the gold medal.”

She fulfilled both predictions.

In hindsight, Gopichand...

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