New Delhi: India’s recurve women’s team pulled off a major upset at the Archery World Cup Stage 2 on Thursday, brushing aside a formidable South Korea 5-1 to secure a place in the final.
Deepika Kumari, Ankita Bhakat, and young gun Kumkum Mohod were rock solid throughout, outclassing a Korean lineup that boasted reigning world champion Kang Chaeyoung, alongside Lee Yunji and Oh Yejin.
According to reports, India seized control early, taking the first set before the Koreans levelled things up in the second, both sides finishing at 56 apiece. Despite the brief pushback, India retained their 3-1 cushion heading into the final set.
When it mattered most, the Indian trio delivered. Two 9s to open were followed by an outstanding finish of three 10s and an X, enough to wrap up the semifinal in style and guarantee India a medal at the tournament. They now meet second-seeded China in Sunday’s gold medal clash.
The day was not without its lows, however. India’s men’s recurve side of Dhiraj Bommadevara, Tarundeep Rai, and Yashdeep Sanjay Bhoge made an early exit, beaten 2-6 by Bangladesh at the first hurdle.
The mixed recurve pair of Ankita Bhakat and Dhiraj Bommadevara were edged out 4-5 by Brazil’s Ana Luiza Sliachticas Caetano and Marcus D’Almeida in a nervy encounter that could have gone either way.
In the compound discipline, Aditi Gopichand Swami and Ojas Pravin Deotale narrowly fell short in the quarterfinals, losing by the finest of margins – 156-157 – to the American pair of Alexis Ruiz and James Lutz.
