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Deepika wins Youth World Archery title

Last updated on: July 30, 2009 
Deepika Kumari

Fifteen-year-old Ranchi girl Deepika Kumari overcame all odds to win the 11th youth World archery Championship in Ogden, the United States, on Wednesday.

Born to an auto rickshaw driver, Deepika did not let her family's economic background come in her way as she became only the second Indian archer to win a Youth World Championship title.

In the final, the fourth seeded Jharkhand-girl shot a total of 115 points to beat Russian Sayana Tsyrempilova, who could score only 109.

Deepika had a consistent run throughout the tournament, scoring 115 out of a possible 120 in the quarter-finals and then 112 in the semi-finals.

The achievement set off celebrations at her Ratucheti village, about 12 km from Ranchi, and the Jharkhand Archery Association has also decided to felicitate Deepika on her return.

"We did not know the result till someone of our locality informed us yesterday while we were returning home from a temple," said Deepika's mother Geeta Devi.

"Except for pocket expenses, not a single penny we give Deepika during her days at the Academy," she added.

Source: ANI