Asian Games archery: Indian women get bronze, Korea take gold

GUANGZHOU - The Indian womens recurve archery team won its first ever Asian Games medal - a bronze - after being tantalisingly close to stunning world champions South Korea in the semifinals here Sunday.

The gold medal, expectedly, went to world champion South Korea but not before hosts China stretched the winners to the limit in the final.

The Indian team, comprising Deepika Kumari, Rimil Buriuly and Dola Banerjee, edged out Chinese Taipei 218-217 in the bronze play-off to ensure a podium finish at the Aoti Archery Range.

The Indian womens march to the semifinals was easy as neither Vietnam in the pre-quarterfinals nor dark horse North Korea in the quarterfinals could make any impact on them.

India outplayed Vietnam 225-152, thus registering the second highest total of the team championship. North Koreas challenge was brushed aside by the Indian trio 214-202.

This brought India face to face with South Korea in the thrilling semifinals. The two teams tied 221-221 at the end of 24-arrow each team contest and matters headed to the three-arrow shootout. The Indians frail temperament was, however, exposed in the tie-breaker as the all conquering Koreans, who shot the highest score of the meet in the quarterfinals against Mongolia 227 to 192, secured 29 points. The Indians could get only 26.

In the other semifinals, hosts China had a tough time against Chinese Taipei before prevailing 220-219. This result left Chinese Taipei and India to fight it out for the bronze.

The battle was close but the Indian women held their nerves to score a 218-217 points victory.

In the last Asian Games at Doha, Indian archers won only one bronze through the mens recurve team of Jayanta Talukdar, Tarundeep Rai, Mangal Singh Champia and Viswash Kumar.

The womens team final was a thriller with China and South Korea tied 220-220 and the contest went into tie-breaker where both shot 28 points each. To resolve the tie, another set of three arrows were shot and this time the Koreans sealed the gold medal with a perfect 30. China managed 27 to settle for silver.

The mens team championship will continue Monday. India had finished fourth in the qualifying round and is pitted against Bangladesh, a country coached by an Indian.

A victory will give India the chance to play the winner of Iran-Nepal contest in the quarterfinals. If India win this tie, then a possible meeting with South Korea is expected in the semifinals.