The Indian men’s archery team of Atanu Das, Pravin Jadhav and Tarundeep Rai was shown the door by top-ranked South Korea in the quarterfinals of the Tokyo Olympics on Monday, July 26,2021.
The ninth-ranked Indians, who had qualified for the Games by securing a silver in the 2019 World Championships in Den Bosch, lost 6-0 to Korea, which had received a first-round bye.
The Korean line-up of Je Deok Kim, Woojin Kim and Jinhyek Oh relied on its skill and consistency to take the first set 59-54.
It maintained the tempo to claim the next 59-57 even though the Indians put up an improved performance.
Facing a do-or-die situation, India lost the third 56-54.
The difference between the two sides could be gauged by the fact that the Koreans scored 10s on 13 occasions, while the Indians managed just seven 10s. Jadhav contributed four of them.
The Koreans had only one 8, scored in the last round by Woojin, in their 18 shots. The Indians shot four 8s, including three by Atanu.
Win against Kazakh
Earlier, India degeated eighth-placed Kazakhstan 6-2 in the pre-quarterfinals.
India won the first, second and fourth sets 55-54, 52-51 and 55-54.
The experienced Kazakh side, consisting of Ilfat Abdullin, Denis Gankin and Sanzhar Mussayev, took the third 57-56.
Jadhav and Atanu’s closing shots, worth 10 apiece, brought the first set to India. The Kazakhs did not score a 10 in the next even as India tightened its grip over the contest.
The Kazakh archers lifted their game in the third before India, riding on 10s from Jadhav and Atanu, pocketed the fourth.
India’s three men archers and the lone woman, Deepika Kumari, will now compete in individual events.
