The Making of a Fearless Archer: Kushal Dalal’s Journey

For Kushal Dalal, the journey to becoming an archer was never part of a carefully planned path. Growing up in Haryana, he was surrounded by sports like kabaddi and wrestling, disciplines deeply rooted in the culture of the state. His mother, Geeta, initially took him to the Rajiv Gandhi Stadium simply to improve his fitness. Little did she know that those visits would eventually lead him towards archery.

In the latest episode of RELIANCE FOUNDATION'S Safar Champions Ka, Kushal Dalal opens up about the unexpected journey that led him to archery, the family and support system that stood behind him, and the mental strength that has helped him embrace pressure on his path towards the Asian Games and Olympic dream.

“Initially, we wanted him to play kabaddi or wrestling. Wrestling is very popular in our village,” Geeta, his mother, recalls.

Boxing was another possibility. But Kushal quickly ruled it out. “When I took him for boxing, he refused. He said, ‘I cannot hit someone like that,’” she says.

Archery gave him a different way to compete, one where the biggest battle was not against an opponent, but against his own mind.

“Archery is a game where you have to use your mind and react according to the situation,” Kushal explains. For him, the environment surrounding the sport is just as important. The quiet, low-noise surroundings of his training centre provide a sense of calm that helps him focus.

“Here, you get a kind of mental peace that you cannot find anywhere else. This is a game of mental toughness.”

That mental toughness has become one of Kushal’s defining qualities. His coach believes his ability to remain fearless when the pressure rises is one of his biggest strengths.

“He does not get scared easily. When the pressure hits him, he gives a very strong response to that pressure. That is his advantage,” Kranti, his coach says.

Kushal has already experienced moments where that composure has been tested. Recalling a memorable tie-break, he remembers finding the centre with his shot and securing the win.
“It was a great moment for me,” he says.

For Kushal, there is also something almost surreal about watching an arrow leave the bow.

“When the arrow is released, for a moment it feels like we are travelling along with the arrow,” he says with a laugh.

Behind every shot, however, is a family that has made its own sacrifices. Kushal comes from a farming family, where managing expenses and travelling for training were constant considerations. His training centre is around 60 kilometres from home, and his family continues to provide him with milk from their own farm.

“We are from a farming family. We had to take care of everything and also look at the budget,” Kushal says.

The support from Reliance Foundation Sports has helped take away much of that burden. “Earlier, we had to manage everything ourselves. After coming in contact with Reliance Foundation, we have received a lot of help. The entire burden has been taken away,” he says.

His family’s belief in him runs even deeper. Whenever Kushal leaves home for a competition, his grandfather keeps a lamp burning at their home temple for 24 hours, praying that his grandson returns with a medal. That faith seems to mirror Kushal’s own confidence under pressure.

“I feel that when I am in a pressure situation, I perform even better,” he says. The intensity brings out a more aggressive side of his game, while the encouragement from his coach keeps him pushing forward.

Now, the focus is firmly on the future. The Asian Games are the immediate target, but Kushal is already looking beyond them.

“My main focus right now is the Asian Games, first the Asian Games, and then the Olympics.”

From a young boy who once refused to step into a boxing ring to an archer embracing pressure head-on, Kushal Dalal’s journey has been shaped by an unlikely beginning, a resilient family and an unwavering belief in his own ability. His next target is clear and he is ready to take aim.