India start strong at Asian Archery Championships
Quality performances from the Indian archers ensured all recurve teams secure opening-round byes in the elimination.
The Indian contingent at the 2019 Asian Archery Championships enjoyed a stellar opening day outing at the five-day event in Bangkok on Saturday.
All three of India’s recurve teams — men’s, women’s and mixed — finished among the top four, while the nation’s best archers also excelled in their respective individual categories.
A near-perfect day
In the men’s recurve, Atanu Das led the way with 677 points and finished fourth in the individual standings, while Tarundeep Rai’s score of 671 and Jayanta Talukdar’s 666 were good for eighth and 10th respectively. Their total of 2014 was bettered only by Korean trio Woojin Kim, Jin Hyek Oh and Woo Seok Lee, who combined to score 2035 and claimed top spot in the team standings.
Their performances meant that all three archers get a first and second round bye in the individual event and will have to wait to find out who their opponents are in the third round. The trio also earned a first-round bye in the men’s team event and will await the results of the first round to learn of their opponents in the second round. Atul Verma, who scored 652 and placed 21st, secured a first-round bye and will compete in the second round.
Over in the women’s recurve, Deepika Kumari led the Indian women with 655 points, finishing eighth on the day. Bombayla Devi Laishram scored 639 and placed 17th while Ankita Bhakat settled for the 21st spot with 633 points. Their total of 1927 saw them finish fourth in the team standings. Promila Daimary scored 624 and finished 35th. Kumari’s effort helped her earn a bye in the first two rounds, while the other three will compete in the second round on Monday.
The mixed team of Kumari and Das — the highest-placed Indians in the men’s and women’s category respectively — were beaten to the top spot by Korean duo Chae Young Kang and Kim. While the Koreans led the way with 1363 points, Indian and Chinese Taipei teams were tied on 1332, but the Indian duo’s 18 shots into the X compared to Chinese Taipei’s 17 saw the former finish second in the qualification round.
The duo will compete in the second round on Monday, with their opponents yet to be determined.