Thaindian News

Kolkata, July 6 (IANS) Indian women archers created history in Turin, the venue of the ongoing world championship, with Laishram Bombayla Devi, Deepika Kumari and Chekrovolu Swuro booking three Olympic quota places. The recurve team outscored defending champions Korea in the semifinals 216-212 to make the maiden entry into the final.

Never before an Indian women archers’ team has entered the final of a world championship. The best so far by an Indian women’s team was a fourth place finish at the 2005 Madrid World Championships, where the Indian men’s team moved into the final and settled for silver.

It could have been a wonderful day for Indian archery but for the first-round loss suffered by the men’s recurve team, comprising Rahul Banerjee, Tarundeep Rai and Jayanta Talukdar. They went down to China by a solitary point 215-216.

Despite the loss, India had another chance to qualify when the Olympic Games hosts Great Britain also moved within top eight. Since the hosts get three berths in the London Games, two best first-round losing teams got another chance to play off. There too India came a cropper.

Indian women trailed France by two points in the first end of six arrows (51-53) in the opening round clash. The rivals tied 54-54 in the second end while France took a commanding lead at the end of third end (56-54) for a total of 163-159. In the final end of six arrows, the Indian team exploded to gather a whooping 57 points as against France’s 50 to end the match 216-213.

It was a stroll in the park for the Indians in the quarterfinals against Denmark as they won the contest 203-197 to come face to face with world champion Korea. Undaunted by the towering presence of Koreans, the Indians shot the arrows like champions to lead the first end with a score of 55-53. Korea won the second end 54-53. Thereafter, further success eluded the Koreans as India won the second end 52-51 and the final end 56-54 for a total of 216-212.

India take on Italy in the final July 10. Italy outplayed China 221-213 in the semifinals. Korea and China will clash for the bronze medal.

In the men’s team final, Korea will meet France while Mexico and Italy fight it out for the bronze.

In the mixed doubles, the Indian pair of Jayanta Talukdar and Deepika Kumari lost to Poland in the quarters after winning against Ukraine in the first round.

World champions Korea, China, Italy and Ukraine assured themselves of full six quota places, three in men and as many in women’s section. Italy, France, the US and Mexico made it to London from the men’s section while India, Denmark, Chinese Taipei and Russia qualified from the women’s segment.