Deepika, Rahul win gold as Indian archers end with 3 gold, 1 silver and 4 bronze medals

New Delhi, October 10, 2010: The Commonwealth Games archery competition came to an end with India winning three gold medals, one silver and four bronze medals at the Yamuna Sports Complex here on Sunday.

India won gold medals through Women’s recurve team (Deepika Kumari, L. Bombayla Devi and Dola Banerjee) and individual (Deepika Kumari) and men’s recurve individual (Rahul Banerjee).

The lone silver medal came through the men’s compound team (C. Srither, Ch. Jignas and Ritul Chatterjee).

The four bronze medals came through women’s compound team (Jhano Hansdah, Bheigyabati Chanu and Gagandeep Kaur), men’s recurve team (Jayanta Talukdar, Rahul Banerjee and Tarundeep Rai), men’s individual recurve (Jayanta Talukdar) and women’s individual recurve (Dola Banerjee).

England was the most successful team especially its domination in the compound division was pronounced. England, which has already begun its preparation for the 2012 London Olympics, failed to win a single gold in recurve division.

RECURVE

MEN’S FINAL: Rahul Banerejee is the No. 15 in the world, while Jason Lyon has made a great come back on the international scene for these Commonwealth Games. He was still a long shot entering the competition as he currently occupies No. 76 place in the world. He nevertheless qualified as No. 3. The first set was split after Lyon scored 9-9-9 and Banerjee 9-10-8. Lyon had the upper hand in the second set with 10-10-9, while Banerjee did 8-9-10. The Indian scored 9-9-10 in the third, but the Canadian kept shooting superbly with 10-10-9 and took a commending 5-1 lead in the match! Banerjee stayed alive in the fourth set with 10-9-9, while Lyon had 10-8-8 but kept a 5-3 advantage. Banerjee scored 9-9-9 in the fifth, while Lyon shot a liner 9, and 8. For second time in the match, he needed a 10 to close it but ended just out in the 9-ring. Shoot-off! It was the third shoot-off. Lyon shot a low 8, opening the door. Banerjee shot a 9 liner, enough for gold!

BRONZE MEDAL PLAY-OFF: The two archers have met only once: in Porec 2006, where Talukdar had his first big win at the international level and beating Gray on the way during the 1/8 elimination matches. Talukdar just had some trouble with his semifinal, but he started this bronze final on fire with 10-10-10. Gray was close to it with 10-10-9 but trailed 0-2. Gray tried to put pressure in the second set with a 10. He then shot a 9 and an 8 that was just “out”. Talukdar started with an 8 but recovered with a 10 and a 9. Split set; Talukdar 3-1. A 6 (and a 9-10) from the Indian in the third set helped Gray to tie the match, scoring 8-9-10. Match tied at 3-3. The level went very high in the fourth set! Both archers shot a 10. Then Talukdar shot a 9, and Gray a 10! However Talukdar shot a 10 to conclude the set, while Gray had 8 (Set 29-28). Talukdar led 5-3! Gray shot 8-9-9 in the fifth, while Talukdar started with 10 and 8, leaving it with an 8 to tie the set and win the match! He just got a liner 8. Bronze for Talukdar.

Earlier, Rahul Banerjee defeated Matthew Grey of Australia in the semifinalos 6-5 while Jason Lyon of Canada beat Jayanta Talukdar 6-0.

WOMEN’SN FINAL: Williamson is a five-time Olympian who won the individual bronze medal at the Athens 2004 Olympic Games. She is currently the No. 30 in the world. Kumari is 17 years old and has surged to the fourth place in the world ranking in recent month, notably with a second place at the Shanghai World Cup stage last month and a first place at the Bangkok Grand Prix at the beginning of the year. She was he cadet world champion at the Youth World Championships Ogden 2009. She won the qualifications and she is the No. 1 seed in the tournament. They have met at the World Cup stage in Antalya this year and Kumari had won.

Williamson had a shaky start with 8-8 but finished the first set with a 10. Kumari started with two 9s, letting her to get another 9 to clinch the first set. She caught a liner 9 and led 2-0. Williamson was not much better in the second set with 9-8-8, while Kumari was strong with 9-10-9 and increased her lead at 4-0. Williamson scored 9-9-7 in the third set. The young and upcoming star Kumai was brilliant with 10-10-10 to clinch her second gold medal of the Games, 6-0!

BRONZE MEDAL PLAY-OFF: The 30 year old, No. 10 in the world and No. 2 seed in the tournament Banerjee was the favourite against Subramanian, who is 27 years old, No. 67 in the world (she was as high as 28 in her career) and fifth in the qualifications. These two archers met twice before in major competitions and Banerjee won the two encounters. Nevertheless Subramanian won the first set 25-23. She could not quite keep it up in the second and third set with 8-6-9 and 2-9-10. In the meantime, Banerjee scored 10-9-8 and 9-8-9 to take a 4-2 lead in the match. In the fourth set, the Malaysian archer started with an 8. Banerjee shot a 9. Subramanian shot an 8. The Indian scored an 8. Subramanian could not put pressure with her last arrow with a 7. Banerjee shot a 9 to win the set and the bronze medal, 6-2!

Earlier, Deepika Kumari outplayed Anbarasi Subramanian of Malaysia 7-1 and Allan Williamson outshot Dola Banerjee 6-2 in the semifinals.

Press release from Indian Archery Association