Ogden, Utah (US), July 14, 2009
Indian men’s junior recurve team brought cheers in the Indian camp in an otherwise mixed day for the 29-member Indian team at the 11th Youth World archery championship here on Monday.
Amid the dominating displays by Korea (recurve) and hosts United States (compound) categories of the junior section , Atanu Das of Bengal, now with Tata Archery Academy, stood fifth overall in the individual qualification with a total of 1294 points after each archer shot 36 arrows each over four distances: 90m, 70, 50 and 50m for a total of 144 arrows.
Pawan Xalxo of Jharkhand was placed overall 10th with 1279 while the third Indian Hemanta Basumatary of Assam was 28th with 1249. The three combined to give India a total of 3822 points that earned India a creditable second place in the team qualification ranking behind Korea (4018). The second ranked India will take on 15th ranked Khazakstan in the first round of team elimination.
Korea swept the top three spots. Ukraine, as a team, took the third place behind India.Indian archers, who are expected to do well in recurve bow section, was in for a shock with the junior women falling flat on the face. The three, Balemai Hansda (1224), Seema Verma (1210) and Sumita Kumari (1187), ended 38th, 44th and 53rd respectively. The team total of 3621 gave India the 14th place in a 16-team field. India’s first round opponent will be third placed Ukraine. Korea (4040), China (3950) and Ukraine (3837) were the top three teams.
Indian junior men compound trio of Arjun Rao (1330, 24th), Ksh. Nikon Singh (1317, 31st) and Sanjay Swansi (1313, 34th) earned India an overall seventh postion with a total of 3960 points. The U.S.A. topped the field with 4072. India will play 10th ranked Belgium in the first round.
The junior women compound team seemed to have fared a little better occupying fifth position. But the fact was there were only five teams and India ended last. Priyanshu Kachhap (1297, 21st), Asrita Kerketta (1292, 22nd) and Kiran Majhi (1254, 24th) gave India a total of 3843 points.
Korea completely dominated the Recurve qualifications, taking the first three spots, both in the men’s and women’s divisions. In the Compound Men and Women’s divisions, the United States earned the top spot as a team and in the individual ranking, with Ben Cleland and Samantha Pruitte finishing first.
Recurve Junior Men:
Korean men swept the first three spots of the qualifications. Jang Chaehwan took the lead with 1344 points, followed by his compatriots Sung Wookyeong and Kim Woojin, who scored 1339 and 1335 points respectively to take 2nd and 3rd places. Defending World Junior Champion Luca Melotto of Italy finished 19th.
In the team competition, Korea was unbeatable, taking first place with 4018 points, more than 200 points ahead of the other nations. India held the 2nd-place and Ukraine took 3rd-place. The Australians, who were 3rd after the morning session, fell to 6th. Disappointing performances came from the USA, 12th, Poland (13th), Germany (18th) and especially Russia, only finishing 24th.
Recurve Junior Women:
Once again it was a clean sweep for Korea. Han Gyeonghee (Korea) was brilliant in both the morning and afternoon sessions. She ranked 1st after the long distances and was able increase her lead to 15 points, finishing the qualifications with 1358. Of the two other archers from Korea, Lee Yujin was 2nd with 1343 points and Yu Jangmi 3rd, scoring 1339. Yuliya Zakharchenko (UKR) finished 4th, followed by two Chinese girls, Zhu Jiani and Lu Siyi. These results confirm the Asian and Eastern European countries domination in the Recurve category.
Korea achieved the highest score of all nations with 4040 points, ahead of China and the Ukraine. A surprising result came from the Netherlands who achieved a great result as a team, placing 5th. Disappointing performances came for Italy (12th) , India (14th), Germany (16th) and the United States (17th).
Compound Junior Men:
In this category Ben Cleland (USA), who already had the best score in the long distances, was first in the short distances as well. Francisco Javier Valverde (Spain) placed 2nd, while Puerto Rico’s Jean Pizarro got the 3rd place. Angel Ramirez and Luis Martin Alfaro from Mexico, respectively 2nd and 3rd after the morning session, finished in 6th and 5th place. Overall it was a great performance for the South American countries, who placed 4 athletes in the first 6 individuals.
Mexico confirmed its progression by taking 2nd place in the team ranking behind the United States (3rd place went to Italy).
Compound Junior Women
Samantha Pruittee (USA) continued her qualifications with an impressive display, shooting a total of 1387 points. Her compatriot Kendal Nicely was steady in 2nd place, scoring 1370. Inge Van Caspel (Ned) gave a great performance to finish 3rd, an exceptional result for the Netherlands. Jorina Coetzee from South Africa, who had been 3rd halfway through qualifications, fell to 6th.
Source: Indian Archery Association press release
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