Indian women archers finish 4th in qualification

Kolkata, July 4: The famous threesome of Indian women’s recurve team, consisting of Laishram Bombayla Devi, Deepika Kumari and Chekrovolu Swuro, gave India a flying start to the world championship by qualifying a creditable fourth with a total of 4005 points at Turin (Italy), according to Archery Association of India Press release.

Deepika, 17, was the best among the three Indians. She finished the four-distance qualifying round with a total of 1343. This enabled her finish ninth in individual ranking. Bombayla was 15th with 1336 and Chekrovolu was 26th with 1326, according to information received here.

Ki Bo Bae of Korea topped the ranking with 1389 followed by her country mate Jung Dosami with 1361.

The higher an archer is placed in the qualifying round, the better her chances of meeting a less calibre opponent in the first round. The same rule applies in the team championship as well.

Defending champion Korea topped the team qualifying round with a total of 4088 points. China was second with 4027 and Italy was third with 4012.

In the race for Olympic quota places, the Indian women will play 13th placed France in the first round of the team elimination. France finished the qualifying round with a total of 3932. A first round win will give India three places for the London Olympics.