Indian women recurve team moves into bronze medal play-off

Patna, June 11, 2011: Indian women’s recurve team moved into the bronze medal play-off against Ukraine after losing to the US in the semifinals that too in a tie-breaker of the World Cup (Stage II) archery competition at Antalya on Friday. The men’s team, however, lost to Japan in the first round also in the tie-breaker, according to information received here.

Predictably, the Indians’ campaign in the individual competition too came to an end with the remaining three, Thupuvoyi Swuro, Laishram Bombayla Devi and Deepika Kumari losing in the round of 32 on Thursday.

The only good news is that the Indian mixed team pair of Jayanta Talukdar and Deepika Kumari moved into the final against China to be played on the final day on Sunday.

The Indian men’s team, consisting of Rahul Banerjee, Tarundeep Rai and Jayanta Talukdar, ranked World No. 1 and ninth in this competition, showed woeful form to tie the score 212-212 against Japan. In the three-arrow tie-breaker, India shot 27 points as against Japan’s 29. Japan went on to beat Korea in the semifinals and moved into the final against France.

The women’s team, comprising Bombayla Devi, Deepika and Chekrovolu Swuro, beat Turkey in the first round 208-207; defeated Russia 209-208 and tied 212-212 with the US. In the tie-breaker, India scored 24 and US collected 28 to move into the final against Korea.

Expectedly, Thupuvoyi went down to ultimate finalist and fourth seed Brady Ellison of the US 6-2 in the round of 32 in the men’s section.

India had very high hopes on Deepika who was ranked fourth behind the three Koreans in the qualification round. Yet, the Indian failed to go past her first opponent in this meet, 29th ranked Lisa Unruh of Germany, losing the contest at 4-6. Bombayla, ranked 11th, should have had no problem in defeating 43rd ranked Bishindee Urantungalag of Mongolia but the latter simply outplayed the Indian 7-1.

The Indian mixed team pair first defeated Germany 146-145 and Italy 149-147 in the quarterfinals. The Korean pair was no match for the Indians as the latter won 151-149.

Indian Archery Association Press release