India’s strong point has always been the team championship. But, in the archery World Cup Stage 2 meet at Antalya (Turkey), four teams made their exit on Friday.
India, which had two silver and a bronze from the Shanghai World Cup Stage 1 last month, will, however, figure in one final on Saturday when the compound mixed team of Chauhan and Manjudha takes on Italy in the final. A good effort from the pair could clinch a historic gold for the country.
Meanwhile, the Indian men’s recurve team, comprising Rahul Banerjee, Atanu Das and Jayanta Talukdar, ranked fifth, went down to 12th-ranked Spain 219-222 in the first round.
The women’s compound trio of Trisha Deb, P. Lily Chanu and Manjudha Soy fell at the first hurdle to Venezuela.
The fifth-ranked India lost 219-215 to its 12th-ranked opponent.
The men’s compound and women’s recurve teams won their first round against Iran (232-227) and Mexico (216-213) respectively.
But, in the quarterfinals, the Indian men’s team of Rajat Chauhan, L. Haridas and Kh. Ratan Singh faced the top seed U.S. and lost 237-230.
The women’s recurve team of Rimil Buriuly, Deepika Kumari and L. Bombayla Devi ran into top seed Korea in the quarterfinals and lost 227-224.
Bombayla bows out
Bombayla Devi, who reached the quarterfinals of the women’s individual recurve event, lost to third-ranked Hyun Jung Joo of Korea 6-2 (28-27, 26-28, 27-24, 29-28).
With Bombayla’s defeat, the Indian campaign in the individual events ended.
