Women’s team wins WC recurve gold; Deepika qualifies for final

Women’s team wins WC recurve gold; Deepika qualifies for final


Deepika Kumari

The Indian women’s recurve team on Sunday upset the mighty South Koreans to win gold in the World Cup Archery (Stage IV) at Wroclaw, Poland for their second successive gold after Medellin meet.

According to information received in Kolkata, Deepika Kumari, Laishram Bombayla Devi and Rimil Buriuly stunned world champions Koreans 219-215 in a thrilling final as the Indian archery team returned with the solitary gold from the last leg of the World Cup.

Korea had finished third in Shanghai, first in Antalya, and did not compete in Medellin Stage as the team of Yun Ok-Hee, Ki Bo Bae, and Joo Hyun Jung never scored below 222 points in their three elimination matches, against the United States, Italy and Russia.

Winners in Stage III at Medellin, the Indian team started as a dark horse as they had a poor 5-2 win-loss record against the Koreans.

Under windy conditions, both teams started out with unusual 7s as they were locked (163-each) after the third end.

With six arrows to go, a poor 6 by Ki Bo Bae let down the Olympic champions as the Indian trio shot three perfect 10s to wrap the issue 219-215.

Deepika concluded the four World Stages with two golds (Medellin, Wroclaw) and two silvers (both Shanghai) and one bronze (Medellin). Deepika had returned empty-handed from Stage 2 in Antalya.

Based on her performances in the four World Stages, Deepika finished inside top seven to qualify for the World Cup Finals to be held on September 21 and 22 in Paris.

Deepika thus qualified for the Finals for second year in a row. In her maiden appearance in Tokyo last year, Deepika had returned with a silver.

Based on their rankings after four stages of the World Cup, top seven archers in men’s and women’s sections make the cut for the Finals, while the hosts country (France) get a quota berth.

Dola Banerjee is the only Indian to have won a gold in the World Finals (in 2007)