Indian archers have never won a medal at the Olympics but after the ranking round, at the Invalids archery venue in Paris, there is hope. The Indian women’s team consisting of Ankita Bhakat, Deepika Kumari and Bhajan Kaur took the side to the fourth position. On the basis of their ranking, India have got a direct entry into the quarterfinals of the women’s team event at the Paris Olympics; two rounds away from a medal
Ankita finished in the 11th position in the Individual Ranking Round with a score of 666, while Bhajan ended up 22nd. On the other hand, Deepika made a fine comeback, finishing at the 23rd slot, after finding herself at the 37th position in the first half of the ranking event. “Iss saal, waise bhi hamare andar aag lagi hai, kyunki hum har match haarey hai (there is fire inside us, as we have lost all the matches this year),” said Deepika, after the ranking event.
Deepika and all other archers were so focused on their respective games that they didn’t know about their rankings. “I don’t know at which position we were going to finish, I thought maybe 5th or 6th. But after the event got over, our coach told us we finished 4th.”
For Deepika, it’s her fourth Olympics but first as a mother. When asked how she misses her 1-and-a-half-year-old child, she said, “I speak to my husband and daughter every day. Even before coming to the event, I spoke to them. Meri beti mujhe bhaav nahi deti. Mein roj usse baat karti hoon taaki woh mujhe bhul na jaaye.” Deepika’s husband, Atanu Das, who is also an archer and has been an Olympian, had told her, “Be strong, and perform like a fighter.”
Ankita, who is in her first Olympics, scored 666 (her season best) in the ranking round. However, she wasn’t satisfied with her performance. “I know it’s my season best, but I could have done better.”
The Indian women’s archery team has started on a good note. The result will definitely boost the performance of the Indian contingent.
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