KOMALIKA IS RECURVE CADET WORLD CHAMP

Madrid: Komalika Bari defeated higher-ranked Sonoda Waka of Japan in a one-sided final to become recurve cadet world champion and earn India’s second gold on the final day of the World Archery Youth Championships here on Sunday. Jamshedpur-born Tata Archery Academy cadet, Komalika shot with brilliant composure and finesse to cruise to a 4-0 lead before wrapping it up 7-3. The 17-year-old thus became India’s second recurve cadet (under-18) world champion after Deepika Kumari, who won the title in 2009. This was also India’s fourth individual world championship title after Deepika (cadet and junior) and Palton Hansda (compound junior in 2006). “I’m feeling very nice because I won the World Championships. It’s also because of my coaches, they are very important,” Komalika, who made senior debut this year and was a member of the World Championship team, said. India concluded their campaign with two gold and one bronze medal in their last event before the World Archery suspension comes into effect. No Indian archer henceforth will be able to represent the country till the suspension handed by World Archery earlier this month is lifted. India also won a gold in the compound junior mixed pair event on Saturday and a bronze in the compound junior men’s team event on Friday. Komalika shot near perfect scores of 29 out of 30 thrice in the five-setter. Starting off with two perfect 10s, Komalika clinched the first set 29-26.