NAGPUR: Asian Games triple gold medallist and world compound archery champion Ojas Pravin Deotale said he had goosebumps when he entered the rehearsal hall on Monday night, the eve of the Arjuna Award ceremony in New Delhi.
A night before he receives the Arjuna Award, Ojas met and interacted with star performers of various sports, and he acknowledged that “it is a special feeling to be among the best”.
“Like me, most of them were curious to know about my sport and how I scored 10 out of 10. I spoke with chess Grandmaster Vaishali Rameshbabu, equestrian champ Divyakriti Singh, Dronacharya award winner, mallakhamb coach and others. To know about their journey in such a short time is nothing but a great learning experience,” Ojas told TOI.
He added, “I never expected this to happen. All this is like a dream come true and so sudden. It’s nice to step into the rehearsal hall and be among the stars of various sports and get goosebumps.”
Within eight years of picking up the bow and arrow, Ojas scripted history by not only becoming the world champion in July at Germany, but also becoming the city’s first Asian Games medallist in the 72-year multisport events’ history. He scored a rare golden hat-trick at the Hangzhou Asian Games in October.
On Tuesday, Ojas will end the 23-year drought of an Arjuna awardee from city. The 21-year-old will be conferred the award by President Droupadi Murmu at the Rashtrapati Bhavan. Ojas was not born when Vijay Munishwar and Joginder Singh Bedi became Arjuna awardees from the district in 2000. Way back in 1996, city’s Neeta Dadwe was awarded the Arjuna for her heroics in kabaddi.
Ojas’s parents, Pravin and Archana Deotale, too have reached Delhi to witness the historic moment.
A night before he receives the Arjuna Award, Ojas met and interacted with star performers of various sports, and he acknowledged that “it is a special feeling to be among the best”.
“Like me, most of them were curious to know about my sport and how I scored 10 out of 10. I spoke with chess Grandmaster Vaishali Rameshbabu, equestrian champ Divyakriti Singh, Dronacharya award winner, mallakhamb coach and others. To know about their journey in such a short time is nothing but a great learning experience,” Ojas told TOI.
He added, “I never expected this to happen. All this is like a dream come true and so sudden. It’s nice to step into the rehearsal hall and be among the stars of various sports and get goosebumps.”
Within eight years of picking up the bow and arrow, Ojas scripted history by not only becoming the world champion in July at Germany, but also becoming the city’s first Asian Games medallist in the 72-year multisport events’ history. He scored a rare golden hat-trick at the Hangzhou Asian Games in October.
On Tuesday, Ojas will end the 23-year drought of an Arjuna awardee from city. The 21-year-old will be conferred the award by President Droupadi Murmu at the Rashtrapati Bhavan. Ojas was not born when Vijay Munishwar and Joginder Singh Bedi became Arjuna awardees from the district in 2000. Way back in 1996, city’s Neeta Dadwe was awarded the Arjuna for her heroics in kabaddi.
Ojas’s parents, Pravin and Archana Deotale, too have reached Delhi to witness the historic moment.
