A PERFECT SHOT

In a remarkable display of determination and skill, 19-year-old archer Prathamesh Jawkar from Buldhana, Maharashtra, secured a historic win against the renowned Dutch player, Mike Schloesse, popularly known as ‘Mr. Perfect.’ Prathamesh’s momentous triumph took place during the finals of the prestigious World Cup Championship held in Shanghai.

- MILIND DHAMDHERE

This gold medal victory in only his second senior-level World Cup event has catapulted Prathamesh to the status of Indian archery’s poster boy, as he paves the way for a promising future in the sport.

In an exclusive interview with Sports Champ, Prathamesh opens up about his journey to success, shedding light on the crucial factors that contributed to his remarkable achievement.

The perfect revenge

Interestingly, Prathamesh had lost his first encounter against Schloesse during the World Cup Series held in Turkey. Prathamesh faced a few problems with the equipment, and he crashed out in the quarter-finals. Facing Schloesse for the second time, Prathamesh rebounded fiercely after a previous loss. Through careful observation and analysis of his opponent’s techniques, combined with intense practice and mental training, Prathamesh was able to conquer the pressure and emerge victorious in the final match.

“During this match, I keenly observed Schloesse and his strategy. Then I started working on my game and rectified a few issues which had cost me the match earlier. I also searched websites and books about mental training. It helped a lot and en route to the final, I defeated a few title contenders like Kim Jongho and Choi Yonghee. So, I was pretty confident about my performance in the final but was a bit under pressure too while playing against him as he is known to be ‘Mr. Perfect, and he won’t give me a chance. My team kept supporting and motivating me. Standing on the victory podium for receiving the gold medal was really an overwhelming and the most memorable moment for me,” he said.

The beginning