Teenage recurve archer Kumkum Anil Mohod has credited fellow archer Dhiraj Bommadevara as her idol and revealed the motivating text message he sent her before her landmark performances at the Asian Games in Japan, where the 17-year-old became the first Indian to win a recurve women's individual gold medal on her continental debut — a feat that also secured a quota place for the LA28 Olympic Games.

Historic Golden Double and What It Means

Kumkum's individual gold came a day after she had partnered with Ankita Bhakat and Kirti to clinch India's first-ever recurve women's team gold at the Asian Games, ending Korea's remarkable run of seven consecutive team titles in the continental event. The Korean women's team returned home without a single gold medal for the first time in the 48-year history of archery at the Asian Games — a seismic shift in the sport's continental hierarchy.

Dhiraj Bommadevara's Precious Message

Speaking at a media interaction facilitated by the Sports Authority of India (SAI), Kumkum said she did not manage to speak to Dhiraj before her gold medal matches, but the 25-year-old Olympian reached out with an encouraging text. 'Dhiraj bhaiya came over after my match, but he texted me, 'Focus on yourself, don't think about who the opponent in front of you is, and behave like a champion,'' she recalled.

The words clearly resonated with the teenager, who carried that composure through both the team and individual finals to complete her remarkable three-medal campaign.

Mixed Team Silver and a Relaxed Partnership

Kumkum also teamed up with Dhiraj for the mixed team event, where the pair won silver after narrowly losing to China 5-3. The two had previously won gold together at the third stage of the World Cup. She described the partnership as uniquely pressure-free. 'Dhiraj bhaiya is my idol. That day, I felt we could have won the gold in the mixed team event. It wasn't that difficult; we just had a slight issue with our aiming,' she said.

She added that Dhiraj's attitude on the field was instrumental in keeping her nerves in check. 'He had told me that whether we win or lose, we have to enjoy the entire match and play. He also said, 'If you make a mistake, that's my fault, and if I make a mistake, that's the coach's fault. Don't take any pressure at all; just shoot your best shot.' When I was playing alongside him, there was no tension whatsoever,' Kumkum said.

Admiration for Virat Kohli and What's Next

Beyond archery, Kumkum has previously expressed a desire to meet Indian batting stalwart Virat Kohli. Asked what she would say to him, she said, 'I admire his discipline. Despite being such a huge star, I really like how he is so grounded. As of now, I haven't thought about what I would ask him when I meet him.'

With no major international fixture remaining on her calendar this year, Kumkum is currently competing in the Archery Premier League (APL). She will next appear at the Senior National Archery Championships, scheduled from 11 to 18 November in Shillong, Meghalaya. 'Right now, the plan is to work on a few technical aspects and focus on my physical strength. I need to go to the gym daily and simultaneously work on mental conditioning to stay mentally strong during tournaments,' she said.

With an Olympic quota already in her pocket, all eyes will be on how the New Delhi-based teenager continues to develop ahead of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.