Seasoned Indian archer Tarundeep Rai is determined to secure his first Olympic medal in his fourth appearance at the Games in Paris. With a sense of urgency, Rai says, "It's a now-or-never situation for me."
Throughout his career, the 40-year-old has showcased his skills by clinching medals in various global and continental tournaments. His impressive collection includes two silver medals at the World Championships (2005 and 2019), nine World Cup medals, with three gold among them, a silver and a bronze from the Asian Games, and two silver and a bronze from the Asian Championships.
In addition to his personal quest for an Olympic medal, Rai also takes on the role of an unofficial mentor to the Indian archery team in Paris. His vast experience and success in international competitions make him a valuable asset to his teammates as they strive for excellence on the Olympic stage.
"It's emotional every day. It's the fourth time. It's a now-or-never situation for me, and that's what I tell my teammates too. Maybe someone playing his first or second Olympics should think like it's now or never. You have to put in an effort as if it's going to be your last," Rai told PTI in an interview.
Rai, hailing from Sikkim, has represented India in at the Athens Olympics in 2004, London in 2012, and most recently in Tokyo.
In his individual performances at the Games, Rai faced early eliminations, bowing out in the first round in Athens and the second round in both the London and the Tokyo editions.
"Olympics is a dream for everyone, and I'm no different. You need an extreme level of preparation for this, and you have to put in a lot of hard work to qualify and win a medal. The colour of your sweat sometimes turns red," Rai said ahead of the Paris Games.
"This Olympics, I'm playing with a three-year gap. Positive sign. Many changes. Tokyo, whatever I lacked, the objective is to rectify. Will do my best," said Rai who hails from Namchi in Sikkim.
The Indian archery team, which has been participating in the Olympic Games since 1988, is set to commence their quest for the nation's first-ever medal in the sport. The archers will kick off India's campaign in Paris on Thursday, starting with the ranking rounds.
"There are always expectations. We had the potential to win, but for small margins, we have returned empty-handed," Rai rued.
"We have kept that in control (this time). Coaches, management, players' mentality, we have kept that in check. Everyone is in their best form."
India has fielded a complete six-member contingent for the Paris Games, marking their first such achievement since the London 2012 Olympics. The qualification was based on rankings, enabling both the men's and women's teams to participate in all five events.
Rai, who was unable to qualify for the previous year's Hangzhou Asian Games, acknowledged that the setback served as a wake-up call for him.
"Yes, the Asian Games was a realization period and gave me a lot of positive vibes. If that did not happen, maybe I would not have made it to my fourth Olympics and reached here.
"That shock made me aware of my weaknesses and what I needed to work on. I took that positively and worked on it."
Rai said he has set up an academy in Sikkim to pass on his knowledge to the future generation.
"Coaching or not, you have to give something back to the sport. This is one thing we have lacked. Transfer of technique, transfer of experience. Senior archers leaving should come back. This gap we have to fill up.
"I don't want my 28 years of experience to go waste, sitting idle at home. The AAI should also think about it.
"An experienced person in the coaching field can give a youngster that experience. It's about giving back. We have to fill that gap. I want to contribute to Indian archery in the future."
