It was yet another story of so close yet so far for Indian archery.
The women's recurve team, figuring for the first time in a World Championship final, led former champion Italy till the halfway stage, but lost 207-210 points at Turin on Sunday.
Deepika Kumari, Chekrovolu Swuro and Laishram Bombayla Devi (in shooting order), making their maiden entry into the final, failed to turn it into a memorable one. Yet the Indians performed better for most part of the contest except the third end of six arrows.
The two nations played seven times before this final with Italy enjoying a 4-3 advantage.
But the biggest positive point the Indians carried into the contest was its dramatic victory in the semifinals when they dethroned the World champion and favourite Korea.
fter the first end, the scores for each team were quite low, 51-50 for the Indians. India began with a 10 from Deepika — the only 10 for India in the entire contest — but also had two 7s by Chekrovolu and Bombayla on the fifth and sixth shots.
Italy's first 10 was scored on the 10th shot! But with two arrows out of the yellow rings in the second end meant Italy still trailed India by one point at the half-way mark (102-103).
After two opening 8s by Guendalina Sartori and Jessica Tomasi to start the third end, the former World champion Natalia Valeeva shot a 10 to steady the nerves. The Italians were back on track with 10-9-10 after that.
As the Indians, Deepika, Chekrovolu, Bombayla, only had a 50-point series at that time, the host reversed the score to lead by four points (157-153). The Indians came out firing and had three 9s in the first three arrows of the final end for 27. The Italians replied was 26. The Indians again had two 9s to the Italians 8 and 9. Bombayla stepped forward and fired a 9.
Valeeva needed an 8 to win, but the experienced Italian nailed a 10 to help the team win the gold after 12 years.
Korea defeated China 222-214 to take the bronze medal.
