The East Singhbhum District Archery Association on Wednesday honoured Komalika Bari for clinching women’s recurve team gold at the recently concluded World Cup Stage 3 in Paris.

Purnima Mahto, who was the coach of the national side in Paris, was also felicitated for guiding the archers to claim the top slot.

Both Komalika and Purnima returned to Jamshedpur on Wednesday early morning.

District archery outfit president Dinesh Kumar, international coach Harender Singh and some archers went to Komalika and Purnima's home and presented them with bouquets and shawl.

Komalika, Deepika Kumari and Ankita Bhakat won glory for the country and Jharkhand by winning the women's team gold on Sunday. The troika beat Mexico 5-1 in the summit clash to achieve the feat.

Komalika, a cadet of Tata Archery Academy, claimed the yellow metal at the World Archery Youth Championship at Madrid in 2019, was happy for being honoured and thanked Purnima for motivating them during the finals. “Ankita and I were disappointed that we did not qualify for the Olympics since it was our last chance in Paris. But our coach (Purnima) pumped up our spirits and asked us to concentrate for the finals against Mexico. Her words motivated us a lot,” the 21-year-old said.

Purnima, coach at the elite Tata cradle, said the archers shot extremely well in the finals. “I would have been happier had Komalika and Ankita made it to the Olympics. But that is past now and both should continue to shoot well,” the seasoned mentor and Dronacharya awardee said.

Deepika, the world number one archer, is the only woman who has qualified for the individual women’s recurve in next month’s Olympics.

ESDAA president Dinesh Kumar, who is also one of the vice-presidents of Jharkhand Archery Association, lauded the efforts of Komalika, Deepika and Ankita. “It was a great achievement that has won laurels for the country and Jharkhand. Purnima Mahto should also be applauded for her role in guiding the archers. We feel extremely glad to felicitate them,” he added.

Coach Singh also showered praise on the archers and said they have given a moment to rejoice to the entire archery fraternity in the country as well as Jharkhand. “Olympics qualification by Komalika and Ankita would have been an icing on the cake,” he remarked.