Atanu Das’ competitive fire burns again with rising Indian archery stars

For an athlete who has been chasing medals for years, there comes a point when it is no longer just about winning. Still hungry to compete? Is there still room for improvement, especially with younger athletes pushing hard to get ahead?

For Atana Das, the answer is clear. Two decades into his archery career, the Indian archer says the rise of young talent has given him another reason to continue. Their performances didn’t make him feel like his time was running out. If anything, they made him want to compete harder.

“When I see new talent doing as well, sometimes even better than me, then I get challenged. Okay, let’s compete. I can do better too,” Das told IndiaToday.in in an exclusive interview on the sidelines of the second season of the Archery Premier League (APL) in Hyderabad. Atana Das represents Chero Archers in the Archery Premier League. (Image: APL)

For Das, the next generation is not a reminder to step aside. It is a challenge to constantly improve.

“I’ve been in archery for two decades and I’ve got one more decade to go,” he said.

DON’T RUSH TO WIN

At 34, Das has experienced the highs and lows of competing at the highest level. He represented India at the Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020 Olympics, won the team silver in the recurve at the 2019 World Archery Championships and won the individual gold at the 2021 World Cup stage in Guatemala City. Later that year, teamed up with Deepika Kumari to win mixed team gold on the Paris stage.

He was also part of the Indian men’s recurve team that won the silver medal at the 2023 Asian Games. Atanu Das was part of the Indian men’s team that won the silver at the 2023 Asian Games. (Image: Instagram/@theatanudas)

There is still a lot he wants to achieve. Das wants to become a world champion, reach world number one and win titles at the Asian Games and the Olympics. The difference now is that he’s not in a hurry to get there.

“I want to win all the titles. I want to be world champion, world number one, Asian Games winner, Olympic champion,” he said.

Earlier in his career, Das believed that winning a big medal, recognition and becoming a household name would change his life. Experience had taught him otherwise. The excitement of a big result may fade, but everyday life goes on.

He still wants to win an Olympic medal. They simply do not believe that one medal will change everything.

This understanding also affected his view of defeat. Archery can turn on one shot and even a good archer can lose on a particular day. Das knows he can’t control every outcome. However, he can control his preparation and consistency of performance over time.

Victory remains the goal. However, he has learned not to let a single result define his life or career.

LIFE BEYOND ARCHERY

Much of this change in perspective comes from his life outside of competition. Becoming a parent with wife Deepika Kumari brought new responsibilities and forced Das to think beyond training schedules and tournament results.

“When I started, I had fewer responsibilities and now I have so many. I’m not just an archer anymore,” he said.

His parents are getting old and he has a child and family to take care of. Balancing these responsibilities with the demands of international sport took time.

“Life has changed a lot after we became parents. Deepika and I have struggled a bit in the last two years to cope with the new generation and the new selection exams. But now I think we are steady and steady for the next few years,” he said.

Das feels more settled now. He is also more comfortable with what the sport has given him outside of medals and recognition.

“I like a simple but luxurious life. I have everything I want through sports. I have freedom. I can take vacations, watch movies and relax with friends. Today I have money,” he said.

He cares less about fame than he used to. It comes and goes, he believes, and cannot guarantee happiness. Money is necessary, but its provision has its limits.

“Money is necessary and there are no limits to money. But money can buy things, not luck or time,” he said.

For Das, the good life is about having time for his family, maintaining his routines, and enjoying the freedom his career has given him. He doesn’t want the pursuit of sporting success to come at the cost of everything else.

“I think I chose this life or this life chose me. I don’t know. I don’t care. But I’m happy with my family, my life, my routines and I’m definitely willing to continue for another decade. We’ll see how it goes, but I’ll definitely play for India for another decade,” he said.

LEARNING FROM ADVERSITY

The path to this point was not straightforward. Das missed selection for the 2024 Paris Olympics and did not compete on the international outdoor circuit that year. He returned to the senior Indian team in 2025 following changes in the training approach and coaching arrangements.

He also had to deal with injury. A minor injury ruled him out of the Asian Games, but the break helped him reflect on his performances and see what needed to change.

Das says he came back feeling stronger, calmer and more balanced. He also analyzed difficult periods with a psychologist and learned to understand his reactions to pressure and failures. Atanu Das was part of the Indian archery contingent at the 2016 Rio Olympics. (Image: Reuters)

No one gave him a recipe for balancing sport and personal life. It came with experience, through wins, losses and the process of finding out what works for him.

Self-care is now part of this process. Das puts himself first, followed by his family and friends. Training remains the focus of his day, but he also makes time for the gym, reading and gaming.

Self-care helps him cope with the demands around him. It also helps him return to training with a clearer head.

His attitude towards failure has also changed. He understands that even good archers can lose because of a bad decision or a mistake on the day. Rather than getting caught up in individual results, he focuses on maintaining his level over a longer period of time.

That doesn’t mean he’s become less ambitious. The younger archers passing by continue to challenge him and he welcomes it. Their progress reminds him that there is always something to learn, no matter how many years he has spent in the sport.

THE OLYMPIC DREAM REMAINS

The Olympics remain the biggest goal in Das’ career. He wants to win a medal for India, but is taking a different approach to that ambition now.

Instead of worrying about what the big tournament might mean for his career, he’s focused on the work it takes to get there. According to him, his routine should not change just because the event is bigger.

“Olympics is the highest tournament. I want to participate and win a medal for the country,” he said.

Das’s job is to prepare well every day, whether he’s competing in the Olympics, the Archery Premier League or a national tournament.

“My routine will remain the same and I will try to do my best every day,” he said.

It’s a simple approach, built over years of competition and learning. The biggest events still matter, but preparation takes place long before an archer steps onto the Olympic stage.

The rise of young archers has also increased the level of competition in India. For an experienced athlete, this means there is no room for complacency. The place at the top has to be earned again and again.

Das seems to relish the challenge. They don’t see the next generation as a reason to move on. Their performances made him want to test himself further and he believes he has another ten years to devote to Indian archery.

He still has a lot to chase: an Olympic medal, a world title and other honors that have so far eluded him. But he no longer sees these goals as deadlines.

For now, the plan is to continue training, competing and learning. Young archers may be the future of Indian archery, but they also help keep Das’ competitive fire alive.

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