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The Indian archery team has begun its campaign at the Paris Olympics on a high note, with Dhiraj Bommadevara and Ankita Bhakat securing direct entry into the quarterfinals of both the men's and women's team events. This achievement came after a strong performance in the ranking round held at the Esplanade des Invalides on Thursday.
Dhiraj, a World Cup bronze medalist and Tokyo Olympics silver medalist Mauro Nespoli conqueror in Antalya, delivered a stellar performance in the individual round, finishing fourth overall. His exceptional performance in the second half of the competition was key in helping India achieve the third spot in the men's team ranking round, guaranteeing them a spot in the quarterfinals. Their opponent in the next round will be either Turkey or Colombia.
Ankita, making her Olympic debut, surpassed seasoned archers like Deepika Kumari to claim the top position for India in the women's individual qualifications. This feat, coupled with Bhajan Kaur's 22nd position and Deepika Kumari's 23rd, propelled India to fourth in the team ranking round, securing their place in the quarterfinals. They will now face the winner of the contest between France and the Netherlands.
The duo of Ankita and Dhiraj, who were the stars of the day, finished fifth in the mixed team round of 16 event, setting them up for a clash against the winner of the Netherlands and China. Despite finishing fifth, their individual performances were remarkable, with Dhiraj scoring 681 points and Ankita adding 666 points to their combined total of 1347.
The Indian archers have shown remarkable resilience and skill in the early stages of the Paris Olympics, putting themselves in a strong position to compete for medals. With the men's team seeded third and the women's team having a chance to face formidable Korea in the semifinals, India's archery contingent is poised to make its mark on the world stage.