Why ace archer Chekrovolu Swuro bowed out
Chekrovolu Swuro, the talented archer from Nagaland, represented India at the 2012 London Olympics. Followers of the sport may remember that she had competed in the same team as Deepika Kumari, the teenage sensation who rose to great heights. Despite culminating in defeat, Swuro’s story of resilience continues to enthuse aspiring archers. Listen to ‘Missing The Mark’, the second episode of the Radio Azim Premji University series ‘Almost Perfect’, which unearths the stories of Indian women athletes who competed alongside the best but fell short of success.
Chekrovolu Swuro came agonisingly close to fame, only to have the wind whisk it away from her. Taking aim at glory is not quite enough for an archer. For the arrow to chart a victorious course, it is equally important to have the wind in one’s favour. Lesson learned, she bowed out from the limelight that was so briefly hers to cherish.
Swuro made history as only the second athlete from the northeast Indian state of Nagaland to represent India at the Olympics. She represented India in numerous international competitions, where she participated in the women’s individual and team events. She won medals at the national level and became a key figure in promoting archery in her home state. Yet, she sometimes wishes that life had been kinder to her, and her voice chokes with emotion as she recalls her heartbreak moment during the 2012 London Olympics.
Despite her strong performance throughout the competition, Swuro’s medal dreams were crushed when she was eliminated in the decisive round of 16. Her future prospects were eclipsed by the rise of another star — the teenage prodigy from Jharkhand, Deepika Kumari — who would go on to become India’s most decorated archer and the World No. 2.
Swuro has receded into the back pages of history. Today, she serves as a deputy superintendent in the Nagaland Armed Police. A mother and a homemaker, she leads a relatively quiet life. Yet, her brush with international sporting glory inspires many aspiring archers from India’s northeastern states to take up the sport.
In this episode of Almost Perfect, a series that examines the stories of Indian women athletes who competed alongside the stars but fell short of stardom, we hear from Chekrovolu Swuro about how she veered off target at a crucial moment in her life.
This show is produced by Confluence Media for Radio Azim Premji University.
Credits:
Achie Humtsoe, Anisa Draboo, Gautam Datt, Jasleen Bhalla, Josy Joseph, Omair Farooq, and Siddhartha Mishra
Radio Azim Premji University:
Akshay Ramuhalli, Bijoy Venugopal, Bruce Lee Mani, Harshit Hillol Gogoi, Narayan Krishnaswamy, Prashant Vasudevan, Sananda Dasgupta, Seema Seth, Shraddha Gautam, Supriya Joshi, and Velu Shankar
Acknowledgements
Videos and audio files used used in this episode:
Music:
- YouTube: RESHAM FIRIRI SONG || TUNGNA DHUN || NEPAL
- YouTube: (Envato Elements) Distant Meditative Indian Flute by applehillstudios
- YouTube: Silent Hiking The Himalayas for 16 days
- YouTube: Tati Angama Naga Instrumental Music
- YouTube: John Williams — Olympic Fanfare and Theme (The Original 1984 Recording)
- Envato: Distant Meditative Indian Flute by applehillstudios
- Envato: Hopeful For by Olexandr Ignatov
- Envato: Melancholy by Gold-Tiger
- Envato: Sadness by WildKittyTunes
- Envato: Hopeful by ARCHIMUSIC
- Envato: In suspense by Crypt-of-Insomnia 5
- Envato: The Suspense by fatbunny
- Envato: Inspirational Cinematic Trailer by Anuch
- Envato: Slow Down Time by marcobellonimusic
SFX
Further reading and resources
- The Nagaland Post: Chekrovolu Swuro – The Solitary Arrowhead
- The Bridge: Chekrovolu Swuro — Remembering Nagaland’s first woman Olympian
- Eastern Panorama: First Naga Girl In Olympics, The Lady With A Bow and Arrow
- Deccan Herald: Don’t want to break hearts of my fellow Naga people: Swuro
- Indian Sports News: I still cannot believe that my dream of representing India in Olympics has come true: Chekrovolu Swuro
- The Indian Express: After a year out,Swuro returns to archery squad
- The Times of India: Archer Chekrovolu Swuro makes cut for world meet
- My News: Nagaland: DSP Chekrovolu Swuro Donated Her Archery World Cup Gold Medal
