Thaindian News

Kolkata, Aug 7 (IANS) Jayanta Talukdar confirmed his status as the top seed in World Cup ranking and qualified for the finals on Sep 26 at Copenhagen despite an early exit from the World Cup archery (Stage IV) at Shanghai Friday.
Otherwise, it was a disappointing day for the Indians in the individual recurve section, with none making it beyond the pre-quarterfinals of a tournament billed as the last competition before the upcoming 45th World Championship in South Korea early September.

Talukdar, winner of the second leg of the four-leg World Cup series at Porec, accumulated 45 points to lead Simon Terry of Great Britain (43 points) and Romain Girouille of France (36), into the finals that promises a winner’s cheque of $20,000.

This was the second entry for the Guwahati-born Tata Steel employee in to the finals of World Cup. He had qualified for the 2006 finals, but finished last.

Dola Banerjee was the first Indian to win the prestigious title in 2007 at Dubai.

Talukdar and Rahul Banerjee failed to bury the Korean bogey, while as Mangal Singh Champia seemed lacklustre.

In the women’s section, highest ranked Indian Rimil Buriuly lost in the pre-quarterfinals while Dola, increasingly struggling to find form and consistency, fell in the second round. Rookie Pratima Boro and Reena Kumari lost in the opening rounds to complete the side’s tale of woe.

Tenth-ranked Talukdar failed to see eye to eye with world champion Im Dong Hyun of Korea and went down 105-114. Seeded 18th Rahul Banerjee fell to second-seeded Korean Lee Chang-Hwan 107-113. Eight-seeded Romain Girouille of France beat 24th ranked Champia 108-106.

Mariana Avitia of Mexico put out Reena Kumari in the first round at 94-98. Pratima lost to Malgarzata Cwienczek of Poland 101-103, also in the first round. Dola Banerjee was beaten by Aida Roman of Mexico 106-110 in the second and Aida ousted Rimil in the pre-quarterfinals, 106-110.

The Indians will come up against some of the best in the team championship Saturday. The men’s team has won two golds and a silver medal in three World Cup appearances this season and the women’s team has bagged a bronze at the third edition at Antalya.