Apeksha B. Ronad has always been on target. The 15 year old won a gold and two silvers in the National School Games in archery held at Rajnandgaon, Chattisgarh recently. She is thrilled with the achievement, as she had made it to the medal list after a three-year wait. “I was involved in ball games — basketball, volleyball and handball — in my younger days in school. Three years ago, my physical education teacher A. Anusuya asked me to switch over to an individual sport like archery,” says Apeksha. The bespectacled CBSE student is awaiting her 10th standard results.
Apeksha won the gold in the 30 m with a score of 252 points, silver in the 40 m (263) and the overall silver. “I can do better and will improve with more exposure,” says Apeksha.Her coach, Brijesh Kumar contends, “She comes to train with me only during the vacations and ahead of the nationals or other major events and has managed to achieve a lot. She has the potential to go ahead if she maintains the same level of commitment and level headedness. Her scores at the School Nationals are very poor in comparison. During practice she has touched scores of 315. The pressure of her 10th standard exams and subsequent lack of practice ensured that she could not match up to expectations. Her medal-winning performances should boost her to do better in the future.”
“I have achieved better scores in the Dhanbad Sub Junior nationals where I scored 300 pts in 30 metres and 302 in 20 metres but did not finish among the medals. The tale was similar at the SGFI meet when I finished fourth two years ago,” admits Apeksha. About her future, she says, “I want to continue with archery and train with Brijesh Kumar in my pre university levels. However, I am also concerned about my marks in the exams. My parents, Basavaradappa and Jayashri, have been very supportive and a great source of encouragement.”
