Admiring Virat Kohli and B. Dhiraj for their work ethics, 17-year-old women’s recurve Asian Games champion Kumkum Mohod understands the importance of staying grounded in order to win an Olympic gold.

After returning to a grand welcome and a roadshow at her home town, Amaravati, the Maharashtra girl was reminded of her main target by her personal coach Praful Dange.

“My sir (coach) said, ‘Forget what has happened. This is not our dream. Our dream is to win the LA Olympics (gold). You haven’t done anything yet. Stay grounded. Just focus on your work,’” Kumkum said, during an interaction organised by the Sports Authority of India on Friday.

Kumkum, who won individual and women’s team gold and mixed team silver in Japan, said she loved combining with Dhiraj, with whom she landed the World Cup Stage gold in Antalya.

“We could’ve won (mixed team gold) too. Dhiraj bhaiya advised me to enjoy the process irrespective of the result. He said, ‘If you make a mistake, it’s mine. If I make a mistake, it’s the coach’s. So, don’t take any load and shoot’.”

When Dhiraj couldn’t be present, he sent Kumkum a text message: ‘Don’t look at the opponent and behave like a champion.’

Kumkum, who skipped simple pleasures of childhood, calmed herself to win the tense shoot-off in the final and secured the gold and an Olympic quota place for the country. Now, she is keen to board the LA flight and win the gold there.

“My father says, ‘You’ll make history in LA,” said Kumkum, while remembering her parents’ sacrifices.

A Kohli fangirl, Kumkum wants to meet the cricket star. “I like his discipline and hard work. Despite his stature, he is so grounded. I have not thought what to ask if I meet him,” said Kumkum, who also finds seasoned Deepika Kumari’s dedication inspirational.

Kumkum bows to para archers, armless Sheetal Devi and limbless Payal Nag, for their courage. “I salute them. Their mindset is strong. They will do well in the Para Asian Games,” said Kumkum, looking forward to increasing her strength and fine-tuning technical aspects.

Journalists representing both print and electronic media appealed to Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu to immediately commence the long-pending journalists’ housing project in Amaravati.

At a meeting organised by the Amaravati Journalists Housing Society on Sunday, secretary P. Naga Srinivasa Rao and others recalled that the previous TDP government had allotted 30 acres to the society through G.O. Ms. No. 67 (2019). The land was later handed back to the government after an agreement with CRDA to construct multi-storeyed apartments for journalists. Subsequently, the government issued G.O. Ms. No. 107, proposing apartments in four categories on the HappyNest model. As HappyNest and several other housing projects are currently under construction in Amaravati, the journalists unanimously urged the government to immediately launch the journalists’ housing project as well.

Housing Society director Chava Ravi pointed out that while the government was constructing houses for the poor, HappyNest apartments for the middle and upper-middle classes, APNRT Icon projects for NRIs, as well as allotting house sites to IAS and IPS officers, journalists should also receive similar consideration.

Two second-year engineering students of SRM University-AP, Amaravati, allegedly duped several fellow students by promising high returns on investments and campus placements in private companies. The police have launched an investigation acting on several complaints in this reagard.

Mangalagiri Rural Police Station SI Chirumamilla Venkateswarlu on Thursday told The Hindu that two students, identified as P. Vijay Narasimha and E. Varun Sai, allegedly collected nearly ₹1 crore from their fellow students from the university by promising lucrative returns on investments and employment by the time they completed their four-year engineering courses.

The police said that the duo had reportedly repaid a portion of the money as returns to some students who had initially invested after believing their claims.

Mr. Venkateswarlu said police were verifying the bank accounts of the accused, tracing financial transactions, and gathering more information. A portion of the amount had also been recovered from the accused, he said.

According to the police, the accused were not from affluent backgrounds but allegedly projected themselves as wealthy before their fellow students.

Meanwhile, the university authorities confirmed that it had constituted a disciplinary committee to inquire into the allegations and that an internal investigation was in progress. The university has so far identified five victims and summoned both the students and their parents for inquiry.

The university stated that appropriate and stringent action would be taken based on the recommendations of the disciplinary committee.