Deepika keeps hopes of a medal alive in archery
Tokyo, July 28: World No.1 archer Deepika Kumari survived some anxious moments before getting past US teenager Jennifer MucinoFernandez 6-4 to sail into the pre-quarterfinals of the women’s individual section and keep Indian medal hopes alive at the Tokyo Olympics here on Wednesday.
On a day her teammates Tarundeep Rai and Pravin Jadhav made second round exits, Deepika seemed to feel the pressure initially as she started off hitting the redzone, capping a poor seven at the floodlit Yumenoshima Park.
Deepika lost the first set by one point but she bounced back strongly with three 10s in a row to take a 4-2 lead. She, however, failed to wrap up the match in the fourth set as she misfired a six in her second arrow. The 18year-old American made it 4-4, winning the set by one-point (25-24). In the winner-takes-all fifth set, Deepika had two 9s to start with before finishing with a poor 8.
Needing a 10 in her last arrow to force a shoot-off, Jennifer signed off with a nine in what was a promising campaign for the American teenager.
Deepika’s husband Atanu Das is the only other Indian left in the fray. The India No.1, who slipped to 35th place in the ranking, begins his campaign against Deng Yu-Cheng of Chinese Taipei in his opening round of 64 match on Thursday.
Earlier, Deepika sailed into the second round with a facile 6-0 win over lower-ranked Karma of Bhutan in her opening match.
Jadhav knocked out World No.2 Galsan Bazarzhapov in his opening match only to suffer a heavy defeat to world champion Brady Ellison in the second round.
The 25-year-old was at his best in his first round match, beating Bazarzhapov of Russian Olympic Committee in straight sets. But, he could not continue his impressive form and succumbed to Ellison. —
Deepika lost the first set by one point but she bounced back strongly to edge past Jennifer Mucino-Fernandez 6-4 to sail into the pre-quarterfinals of women’s individual archery event.