Former World No. 1 Deepika Kumari, who took a break from competition after giving birth in December 2022, demonstrated her remarkable return by topping the selection trials for the upcoming World Cups and Paris Olympics.
The three-time Olympian, who recently claimed two gold medals at the Baghdad Asia Cup in February, secured her spot in the four-member squad alongside Bhajan Kaur, Ankita Bhakat, and Komalika Bari. Former youth world champion Bari earned her place, displacing Simranjeet Kaur.
After a hiatus of 20 months, the 29-year-old Deepika showcased her prowess by defeating Simranjeet in a four-set match to win gold at the Baghdad leg of the Asia Cup. India is still vying for a quota in the women’s section for the Paris Olympics, with the upcoming third stage of the World Cup in Antalya from June 18 to 23 serving as the final qualifying event before the Games in July-August.
