Khelo India 2019, Archery: Muskar Karir overcomes pain to take top four slot in compound archery

Pune, January 18: Asian Games silver medallist Muskan Karir (Madhya Pradesh) overcame nagging shoulder pain to shoot a reasonable score of 675 points in the girls under-21 compound archery ranking round in the Khelo India Youth Games 2019 in the Army Sports Institute here today. She finished a creditable fourth after 72 arrows, getting her mind to focus on the target and not be distracted.

The 18-year-old Madhya Pradesh Archery Academy-trainee from Jabalpur was determined to complete the ranking round with a top-four finish, her coach Richpal Singh Salaria said. “She will not have to shoot 72 arrows tomorrow in the Olympic round and will be ready for the challenge,” he said, pointing out that his ward was mentally tough and faced no pressure as favourite.

Jharkhand’s Anita Kumari, who hails from Silli, 60km from Ranchi, topped the girls under-21 compound ranking round with an imposing total of 694 points. In the boys under-21 ranking round, Punjab’s Sangampreet Singh Bisla was just as good. The Patiala lad’s 695 was two points better than Madhya Pradesh rival Saurabh Pandey’s total. In fact, the top six had scores of 690 and more.

Youth Olympic Games silver-medallist Akash Malik (Haryana) shot with consistency on what has been his home turf for a while now, the Army Sports Institute, but took only the third place in the ranking round in the boys under-17 recurve contest. Shooting at the target 60m away, the 16-year-old Akash Malik shot 665 points, eight behind the leader Amit Kumar (Madhya Pradesh).

Amit Kumar, who won the team gold for Madhya Pradesh in National Championships here last year, will be ready to stop the Haryana trio of Paras Hooda, Akash Malik and Rahul in the Olympic rounds tomorrow. “He is a good Olympic round shooter,” coach Richpal Singh Salaria said of the 15-year-old who picked up a bow for the first time two years ago.

The results (ranking round, top four only)

Recurve

Boys under-21: B Dhiraj (Andhra Pradesh) 663 points; Shukmani Gajanan Babreka (Maharashtra) 662; Uttkarsh (Punjab) 653; Satyam Shyam Patil (Maharashtra) 652.

Girls under-21: Sangeeta (Haryana) 647 points; Suparna Singh (West Bengal) 628; Sehajpreet Kaur (Punjab) 627; Ankita Bhakat (Jharkhand) 625.

Boys under-17: Amit Kumar (Madhya Pradesh) 673; Pras Hooda (Haryana) 670; Akash Malik (Haryana) 665; Rahul (Haryana) 655.

Girls under-17: Komalika Bari (Jharkhand) 668; Ridhi (Haryana) 651; Shaniya Sharma (Jharkhand) 648; Amanpreet Kaur (Punjab) 631.

Compound

Boys under-21: Sangampreet Singh Bisla (Punjab) 695; Saurabh Pandey (Madhya Pradesh) 693; Padam Sehrawat (Delhi) 692; Sumik Kumar (Haryana) 691.

Girls under-21: Anita Kumari (Jharkhand) 694; Shristi Kanwar (Rajasthan) 681; Suchitra Tourangbman (Manipur) 675; Muskan Kirar (Madhya Pradesh) 675.

Boys under-17: Ritik Chahal (Delhi) 697; Kunderu Venkatadri (Andhra Pradesh) 694; Mayank Rawat (Haryana) 684; Chirag Vidyarthi (Madhya Pradesh) 683.

Girls under-17: Priya Gurjar (Rajasthan) 684; Isha Ketan Pawar (Maharashtra) 681; Nikesa Sakhrie (Puducherry) 680; Arshiya Chaudhary (Delhi) 677.