India’s ace woman shooter Heena Sidhu carries the expectation of millions of Indians in 10m air pitol while Manavjit Singh Sandhu and Kynan Chenai will be seen in action in men’s trap.
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The Indian women’s archery team comprising, Deepika Kumari, Bombayla Devi and Laxmirani Majhi will take on Georgia’s Kristine Esebua, Alexandra Longova of Slovakia and Baldauff of Austria respectively at the Rio Olympics on Sunday. The Indian women have won the silver in the World Championship and if they capitalise on the bright conditions, which stand in such stark contrast to the gloomy environs of the Lord’s ground in the London Games in 2012, they can really stir up excitement in the knock-out phase. Deepika bagged 640 points, Bombayla got 638 and Laxmirani managed 614 as India shot a combined total of 1,982. A top-four finish would have given the team a bye into the quarters. The team that wins a set then scores 2 points. The Colombian archers could be seen crying even before the last arrow had been sent to the target as they realised their fate had been sealed.
Bombayla was the most consistent with a single 8 pointer, five shots of 9 points each and a ideal 10. With all eyes on the final set, Deepika pulled up her socks to score two 9s and helped India to score 52 points against Colombia’s 44. However, Deepika Kumari struggled and it allowed Colombia to bounce back. In fact Deepika hitt an atrocious 7 with the final arrow of the first set.
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Needing 28 points with final three arrows to beat India’s set score of 52, Colombian archer Caroline Aguirre committed a hara-kiri as she lost control and the misdirected arrow fetched her only 3 points, much to the relief of the Indian camp. It was enough by a point to overtake Colombia.
