Indian women’s team qualifies for London Olympics

Kolkata, July 6, 2011: History was created at Turin, the venue of the ongoing world archery championship, where the Indian women’s recurve team of Laishram Bombayla Devi, Deepika Kumari and Chekrovolu Swuro, not only booked the three Olympic quota places but outscored defending champion Korea in the semifinals by 216 points to 212 to make its maiden entry into the final, according to a Press release of the Archery Association of India.

Never before an Indian women’s team ever entered the final of a world championship. The best so far was fourth place finish by an Indian women’s team at the 2005 Madrid Worlds when the Indian men’s team moved into the final and settled for silver.

It could have been a wonderful day for Indian archery but for the first round loss suffered by the Indian men’s recurve team, comprising Rahul Banerjee, Tarundeep Rai and Jayanta Talukdar, at the hands of China in the first round. India lost by a point, the score being 216-215 in favour of the winner.

Despite the loss, India had another chance to qualify when the Olympic Games host Great Britain also moved within top eight. Since the host gets three berths in the London Games, two best first round losing teams got another chance to play-off. There too India came a cropper.

Overwhelmed by the Indian ladies’ show, Prof. Vijay Kumar Malhotra, President, Archery Association of India proudly conveyed his heartiest congratulations to Indian women’s team of Deepika Kumari, Laishram Bombayla Devi and Chekrovolu Swuro for confirming three quota places for 2012 Olympics in London and for entering the final of the World Championship for the first time in the history of Indian archery.

“It was really a wonderful performance by the Indian contingent and the recurve Women’s team deserves special appreciation because of its commendable victory over World Champion Korea in the semi-finals. I am personally very happy to hear the good news in a day and wish them all the very best for bringing more glory and laurels for the country in the World Championship,” Prof. Malhotra said.

Indian women trailed France by two points in the first end of six arrows (51-53) in the first round clash. Two teams tied 54-54 in the second end while France took a commanding lead at the end of third end (56-54) for a total of 163-159. in the final end of six arrows, the Indian team exploded to gather a whooping 57 points as against France’s 50 to end the match at 216-213.

It was a stroll in the park for the Indians in the quarterfinals against Denmark winning the contest at 203-197 to come face to face with world champion Korea. Undaunted by the towering presence of Koreans, the Indians shot the arrows like champions to lead the first end with a score of 55-53. Korea won the second end at 54-53. Thereafter further success eluded the Koreans as India won the second end 52-51 and the final end 56-54 for a total of 216-212.

India will play Italy in the final on July 10. Italy outplayed China 221-213 in the semifinals. Korea and China will play for the bronze medal.

In the men’s team final, Korea will take on France while Mexico and Italy will fight it out for the bronze medal.

In the mixed doubles, the Indian pair of Jayanta Talukdar and Deepika Kumari lost to Poland in the quarterfinals after winning against Ukraine in the first round.

World champion Korea, China, Italy and Ukraine assured themselves of full six quota places, three in men and as many in women’s section. Italy, France, the USA and Mexico made it to London from the men’s section while India, Denmark, Chinese Taipei and Russia qualified from the women’s segment.