Demand for exclusive interviews leaves Deepika Kumari in tears

Deepika, the captain of women's recurve team, begged for privacy, saying she was too tired even as several reporters jostled and demanded that she give them exclusive interviews.

Indian women archers Rimil Buriuly (L), Deepika Kumari (C) and Bombayla Devi pose with their gold medals during a meeting with the V. K. Malhotra President of Archery Association of India in New Delhi on Tuesday. Pic/AFP

After leading India to gold medal in recurve team event in the recently concluded world cup, Deepika alongwith teammates Bombayla Devi and Rimil Buriuly returned home in the wee hours today to a lukewarm response.

The team was then felicitated by Archery Association of India President Vijay Kumar Malhotra at his residence. But the ceremony ended with Deepika in tears because of intense media pressure for interviews.

Reporters from leading national networks insisted on doing one-on-one interviews with her while she wanted to offer sound-bytes as the team had a flight to catch.

The archers were, however, a little disappointed that no top officials had come to receive them at the Indira Gandhi International airport. The trio of Deepika, Bombayala, and Rimil won back-to-back World Cup titles beating a formidable South Korea team in the final at Poland's Wroclaw on Sunday.

"We all knew the Korean team was tough and it is hard to compete against them. On top of that the weather was bad, it was pretty windy. It was a tough match. We were tied for 3 matches and then we beat them in the end," Deepika said. The final saw the Indian girls match their higher ranked Korean opponents Yun Ok-Hee, Ki Bo Bae, and Joo Hyun Jung 219-215 shot for shot, ultimately edging ahead in the final round and defending their title 219-215.u00a0