Indian men's recurve team in title round

Patna, September 3, 2010: After a gap of one tournament, the Indian men’s recurve team is back into medal contention. The team, comprising Jayanta Talukdar, Tarundeep Rai and Rahul Banerjee, ensured a final berth in the World Cup archery Stage IV at Shanghai on Friday and will take on Japan in the title round.

According to information reached here, India avenged the quarterfinal loss to the US at Ogden by thumping them by 225-208 in the quarterfinals. India’s first round victim was Great Britain, one of the strong contenders at the Commonwealth Games, at 218-215. Hosts China were no match in the semifinals as India coasted to 222-214 triumph. Japan made its final entry by shocking world champions Korea 224-216.

The Indian women’s recurve side, consisting of Deepika Kumari, Laishram Bombayla Devi and Dola Banerjee, silver medalists at the last meet at Ogden, was surprised by Japan at 212-213 in the initial round.

India’s tale of woe in the compound section continued unabated with the men’s team, C. Srither, Ch. Jagnas and Ritul Chatterjee, one of the weakest selected in recent years, was ousted by Malaysia at 218-224. The women’s outfit with Jhano Hansdah, Bheigyabati Chanu and Gagandeep Kaur, did one better by going out in the quarterfinals. Having beaten New Zealand in Round No. 1 at 216-200, the team came a cropper against the US at 218-226.

The mixed team concept is yet to catch on in India with the result the Indians were never a team to reckon with. The recurve team of Talukdar and Deepika, seeded third went down to 14th seeded Mexico at 142-145 and the compound duo of Kh. Ratan Singh and Jhano Hansdah, ranked 10th ousted Italy 153-151 but lost to the US in the quarterfinals at 150-154.

Source: Indian Archery Association release