Asian Games team bronze medallist archer Bhajan Kaur claimed a gold medal to help India earn a recurve women’s individual quota place in the Final Olympic Qualifier in Antalya, Turkey, on Sunday.
Even as the seasoned second-ranked archer Deepika Kumari, who received two byes, lost her first match to Azerbaijan’s Yaylagul Ramazanova 6-4, the third-ranked Bhajan and the ninth-placed Ankita Bhakat reached the quarterfinals to ensure a women’s berth in Paris 2024.
As the event offers only one individual quota place to a country, India secured the slot through the higher-ranked Bhajan’s fine performance.
The 18-year-old Bhajan got two byes and beat Mongolia’s Urantungalag Bishindee 6-2, Slovakia’s Ursa Cavic 7-3 and Poland’s Wioleta Myszor 6-0 to achieve the first target of entering the quarterfinals. Then she continued her good touch to get past Moldova’s Alexandra Mirca 6-2 in the semifinals and Iran’s Mobina Fallah 6-2 in the final.
Ankita, who also got two byes, defeated Israel’s Shelley Hilton 6-4 and Mikaella Moshe 7-3 and Philippines’ Gabrielle Monica Bidaure 6-0 to enter the quarterfinals before coming up short against Mobina 6-4.
Indian men and women’s teams had lost early to miss out on team quotas, which would have allowed the country to field three men and as many women in the Olympics.
However, both teams have another chance to qualify through the world rankings as they are placed at the top among the countries which have not secured team quotas yet.
Comments
SHARE