Ankita Bhakat, born on June 17, 1998, in Kolkata, West Bengal, is an outstanding Indian recurve archer. Currently ranked world number 20 by the World Archery Federation, Ankita has made significant strides in the sport. She is a vital member of the Indian national recurve team and competes in international events in the women’s individual, women’s team, and mixed team recurve categories. Ankita’s journey from a young girl in Kolkata to a world-ranked archer is truly inspiring.
Early Life and Introduction to Archery
Ankita was born to Shantanu Bhakat, a milkman, and Shila Bhakat. She discovered her passion for archery at the age of ten. Ankita began her training at the Calcutta Archery Club, where she honed her skills and developed a deep love for the sport. In 2014, she joined the Tata Archery Academy in Jamshedpur, where she trained under the guidance of renowned coaches Dharmendra Tiwari, Purnima Mahato, and Ram Awdesh. This move was pivotal in her career, providing her with the platform to excel.
Career Beginnings and Early Achievements
Ankita’s talent was evident early on, and she was selected to compete in the 2015 World Archery Youth Championships in Yankton as part of the Indian national team. Unfortunately, due to visa issues, the Indian delegation couldn’t participate. Despite this setback, Ankita’s determination remained unshaken. She went on to compete in the 2015 Seoul International Youth Archery Festa, where she won a bronze medal in the girl’s individual recurve competition and a silver in the girl’s recurve team event.
Rising Through the Ranks
Ankita’s career saw a significant boost in 2016 and 2017. She competed in the Indoor Archery World Cup (Stage 2) in Bangkok, reaching the pre-quarter-finals. In 2017, she participated in the Asia Cup (Stage 2) in Bangkok, where she reached the quarter-finals in the women’s individual event and won a silver medal in the women’s recurve team event with Promia Daimary and Sakshi Rajendra Shitole.
Later that year, at the 37th edition of the Indian Senior National Championships in Faridabad, Ankita made it to the finals in the women’s recurve competition, finishing as the runner-up to Deepika Kumari. She also won a bronze medal in the mixed team event with Mukesh Boro at the 2017 Asia Cup (Stage 3) World Ranking Tournament in Chinese Taipei.
World Archery Youth Championships 2017
One of the most significant milestones in Ankita’s career came in 2017 at the World Archery Youth Championships in Rosario, Argentina. She competed in the recurve junior mixed team event with Jemson Singh Ningthoujam. The duo was seeded ninth and went on to win the gold medal, defeating the Russian team 6–2 in the final. This victory was monumental, marking India’s fourth overall world youth championships title and its first since Deepika Kumari’s victories in 2009 and 2011.
Continued Success in 2018
Ankita’s success continued into 2018. She competed in the 2018 Archery World Cup in Shanghai, China, participating in the women’s individual, women’s team, and mixed team recurve events. In the individual recurve event, Ankita was seeded eighth and made it to the fourth round. She also reached the quarter-finals in both the women’s team and mixed team events.
In May 2018, Ankita competed in the women’s individual and women’s recurve team events at the 2018 Archery World Cup – Stage 2 in Antalya, Turkey. She teamed up with Promila Daimary and Deepika Kumari, reaching the semi-finals in the women’s team event. Although they lost to the South Korean team in the semi-final and to Chinese Taipei in the bronze medal match, Ankita’s performance was commendable.
Ankita Bhakat’s Training and Dedication
Ankita’s journey in archery is a testament to her dedication and hard work. Training under top coaches at the Tata Archery Academy has been crucial to her development. Her rigorous training regimen, combined with her natural talent, has propelled her to the top ranks of the sport. Ankita’s commitment to archery is evident in her consistent performance and her ability to bounce back from setbacks.
Future Aspirations
Ankita Bhakat’s journey is far from over. With her eyes set on future international competitions, including the World Archery Championships and the Olympics, Ankita continues to train rigorously. Her determination to excel and bring glory to India drives her forward. Ankita aims to inspire the next generation of archers and contribute to the growth of archery in India.
Conclusion
Ankita Bhakat’s story is one of passion, dedication, and perseverance. From her early days in Kolkata to becoming one of the world’s top recurve archers, Ankita has shown that with hard work and determination, dreams can be achieved. Her journey is an inspiration to aspiring athletes and a testament to the potential of Indian sportswomen on the global stage.
