Deepika Kumari and Atanu Das showed tremendous resolve to come back and clinch the recurve mixed team bronze at the Archery World Cup Stage I in Shanghai on Sunday. The top-seeded Indian duo edged past third-seeded Korea 5-4 after the two teams were tied at 18-18 in the shoot-off.
This is India’s third medal from this tournament after having clinched the silver medal in women’s recurve team and the bronze in men’s recurve team competitions earlier in the day.
India had the slower start of the two as the young Korean team of Areum Jo and Seong Cheol Park gained the early momentum. While they combined to shoot 36, the Indian team could only come up with 33 as Deepika looked slightly off-colour.
Champions know when to rise to the occasion
After shooting a disappointing 6 in the opening set, the former World No. 1 Deepika bounced back in the second set to contribute 18 while the in-form Atanu shot another 18 to total 36. The Koreans lost that set narrowly after tallying 35.
That, however, did not deter the third seeds and they made a strong comeback to take the third set 39-37.
The match got extended to the tie-break as the Indians produced a brilliant performance under pressure to pocket the fourth set by the skin of their teeth, 38-37.
In the ensuing shoot-off, both teams amassed 18 but India’s arrows were hit closer to the middle that awarded them the bronze.
With this, India’s campaign at the Shanghai World Cup comes to an end. Without a doubt, there have been a lot of positives on which the team will look to build upon ahead of the Rio Olympics in August.
