How Hyderabad coach Vivek Teja helped Chikitha script Asian Games golden double

Hyderabad-based human performance coach Vivek Teja played a quiet role in Chikitha Taniparthi's Asian Games golden double, working on her strength, conditioning, nutrition and mental resilience over 10 months as the Telangana archer secured gold in team and mixed event

Hyderabad: He is not a designated support staff member of the Indian archery contingent at the ongoing Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. Yet Hyderabad-based human performance and transformation coach Vivek Teja has quietly played his part in Indian archer Chikitha Taniparthi’s golden double in the women’s team and mixed events.

“It all started about 10 months ago when Chikitha, who comes from a poor farming family in Peddapalli district of Telangana, felt that she needed the right kind of guidance and mentoring ahead of the 2026 Asian Games,” Vivek told Telangana Today.

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“My work with Chikitha focused on her overall preparation, including strength and conditioning, nutrition, supplementation and mental resilience. I worked on her strength, stability, balance and core strength, which are very important for an archer to hold the bow steadily, maintain her position and stay strong throughout competition,” he said.

“I also worked with her on proper nutrition, making sure she was eating balanced meals, getting the right nutrients and following appropriate supplementation to support her training and recovery,” Vivek said.

“I have also helped her develop mental resilience — staying calm, focused and confident during competitions and not getting distracted by pressure or outside factors,” he said.

“When I first started training Chikitha, she did not have the same level of muscular strength and physical conditioning that she has today. So, we started with a proper strength and conditioning programme and gradually built her strength, stability, balance and endurance,” said Vivek, who is also an internationally recognised martial arts exponent.

“There was an effort to ensure her competitive mindset, how to stay mentally strong, stay calm and focused, and not get distracted by pressure or things happening around her,” he said.

“Chikitha is extremely disciplined and hardworking. We worked very hard with the Asian Games as an important goal, and winning two gold medals is a tremendous achievement. I am extremely happy and proud that I could play a small part in her preparation,” said the 33-year-old mentor.

“I am also very happy that she has secured her place for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. That is a very big milestone, and I am excited to see what she can achieve in the future,” Vivek said