Thaindian News

Kolkata, July 15 (IANS) After a disappointing opening day, Indian archers put up an encouraging show in the cadet (under-16) category of the 11th Youth World Archery Championship at Ogden, Utah in the US.
On a day when three world records were set by the South Korean recurve archers, three Indians finished among the top ten in the individual categories of both recurve and compound bow sections Tuesday, according to information received here. India figured among top six in the team qualification standing of the two categories.

Sub-junior national champion Deepika Kumari came up with the day’s best performance for the country as she finished fourth overall amassing 1,345 points in the girls’ recurve section.

Jeon Hun Young of South Korea established a world record with 1,380 points which surpassed her compatriot Lim Su Ji’s 2008 mark of 1,377 set at Kundu in Turkey.

Padyawati Sardar finished 20th with 1,270 and V. Sharadha ended 33rd with 1,243 to enable India take the fifth slot with a total of 3,858 and settle for a first round team encounter opposite 12th ranked Poland.

South Korea also set a world record in team total with 4,121, surpassing their previous best of 4,069 set at Kundu last year.

In the boys’ section, Sanjay Boro was the best Indian cadet recurve archer occupying an overall seventh position with 1,305 points. Mangal Ho was 21st with 1,265 and Parashan Nath 40th with 1,227. The team total of 3,797 enabled India to end fourth and the boys will clash with 13th placed Finland in the team elimination.

South Korean Kim Joo Wan improved upon his last year’s world record of 1,377 with 1,380 for the day’s third record. The Koreans finished on top in both the girls’ and boys’ groups to complete their domination of qualification rounds.

Sub-junior national champion Abhyudaya Srinet (1,338) slumped to a poor 22nd in the compound boys’ section. Sudhakar Kumar Paswan ended much higher at 12th with 1,354 and Ritul Chatterjee finished 18th with 1,346. The trio combined to give India a total of 4,038 points that placed the side sixth overall to earn a first round bye in the ten-team field.

Sarikonda Jayalakshmi, having the experience of being with the senior Indian team earlier this year, displayed immense confidence in the compound girls’ individual qualification. She stood seventh with 1,371. Disappointing support from Nilam Kumari (1,318, 26th) and Prerna Bhagat (1,311, 27th) meant India’s total of 4,000 gave it only the fourth place in the five-team field.

India and fifth-placed Australia will play first and the winner will qualify for the semi-finals against top seed US. Second seed Mexico and Russian Federation will play the other semi-finals.