Archer Deepika Kumari is one of India's brightest medal prospects at the London Olympics, but just before the teenager embarks upon the greatest test of her career, she has been made a pawn in a needless game of tug-of-war between two corporate giants.

Deepika, who turned 18 last month, was on Saturday inducted into Tata Steel as a manager in the company's sports department.

However, it came to light on Sunday that public sector Maharatna Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) has also approached her to join the company and even issued an appointment letter.

During a send-off function for the Indian athletes going to the London Olympics, Deepika was mentioned as an ONGC athlete more than once. The audiovisual presentation at the event showed Deepika as the first of the Olympians employed by the company. Even the press release included the archer's name in the list.

The Archery Association of India (AAI) was not pleased at the scenario.

"This is a white lie and a clear case of poaching. Such activities are not becoming of the stature of a company like ONGC, which carries the tag of a Maharatna,"AAI secretary general Paresh Nath Mukherjee told Mail Today.

He said that the PSU giant had no business approaching Deepika at this stage.

"Tata Steel took her under their wing at an early age and helped her make the most of her inherent talent. She joined Tata Archery Academy in 2008 and they groomed her into what she is now. Now that she is the world No. 1 in her event and one of the favourites for an Olympic medal, they want to take advantage," said Mukherjee, under whose eye the archer has prepared for the Olympics at camps in Kolkata and Guwahati.



"They sent her an offer letter 15 days ago. She had just turned 18 then and they wanted to cash in. They wanted her to accept the offer and join immediately. It was very poor timing on their part and it diverted Deepika's mind just before the Olympics. Such attempts are not in good taste."

An ONGC official, when contacted, played down the whole issue. "We have issued her an appointment letter and according to the rules, she has to join within 45 days. If she does, well and good. If she does not, the offer will lapse," VK Mahendru, head of ONGC's sports division, told Mail Today.

"However, if she decides against joining ONGC we will not say that the offer has been taken back. However, we hope she accepts our offer. We have told her not to worry about this matter and concentrate on her game. That's why I also mentioned during the event that we hope Deepika joins us in the coming days."

This issue so close to the Olympics would not help Deepika, who has not been keeping well over the past few days.

The archer, who won her first World Cup gold medal at the Stage II event in Antalya, Turkey, in May, did not train on the last couple of days at the camp in Kolkata. She attended the function despite being under the weather, but was in no position to react on the matter.

"Deepika is still not well. The humid weather in Kolkata may have something to do with it. But we are reaching London 10 days before the competition starts and hopefully, the cooler climate there will help her recover," national coach Limba Ram told Mail Today.