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Unheralded Atanu Das enters men’s archery pre-quarterfinals

Das will next face South Korea’s Seungyun Lee in the 1/8 Eliminators on Friday.

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After a fine gritty performance in the qualifiers, Indian archer Atanu Das will be eyeing a medal when he begins his campaign in the elimination round of the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro on Tuesday.

In a thrilling best of five sets encounter, Das edged out his opponent 28-26, 29-26, 26-27, 27-28, 29-28 at the Sambodromo.

Lee was a part of the victorious South Korean outfit that won a gold medal in the team Recurve event at the ongoing Games.

The going against the Cuban was expectedly tougher but what still stood out was the manner in which the Indian held his nerve, especially in the crucial fifth set.

The score was 19-18 and a “10-pointer” would have ensured his place in the last-16 even before his opponent had aimed for his final strike.

Earlier in the day, Atanu defeated Nepal’s Jitbahadur Muktan 6-0 in the men’s individual 1/32 elimination round.

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Atanu Das will be India’s sole representative in the men’s singles category in Archey at 2016 Olympics.

Lying a lowly 10th after first 36 arrows, the 24-year-old Kolkata lad turned it around in style in the final set of 36 arrows by shooting 23 ideal 10s including 10 closest to the centre to finish fifth with 683 out of the possible 720.

Four sets quarter-finals were conducted, each with six rowers.

Bhokanal finished the 2000 metre mark with a time of 6.59.89.

Croatia’s Damir Martin, the London Olympics silver medallist, won the quarterfinal with a far superior timing of 6:44.44, ahead of second-placed Alan Campbell (6:49.41).

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Heena finished a lowly 30th after the precision stage and fared just a bity better in the rapid stage but it wasn’t enough for qualification. JitBahadur only managed one ideal 10 score in the first round.

Atanu Das