Berlin Archery World Cup: Misfiring India to fight for solitary bronze

Ranked fifth in the qualifications, the Indian recurve mixed duo of Atul Verma and Laishram Bombayla Devi lost to top seed Korea 2-6 in the semifinals to set up a bronze medal clash with seventh seed Italy.

India has already made early exits from the team and individual events of both recurve and compound section, and its only medal hope rests on the duo of Verma and Bombayla on Sunday. (Representative image)

The recurve mixed duo of Atul Verma and Laishram Bombayla Devi made the bronze play-off on Friday to brighten India’s medal prospects in an otherwise disappointing campaign in Stage 4 of the Archery World Cup.

Ranked fifth in the qualifications, the Indian pair lost to top seed Korea 2-6 in the semifinals to set up a bronze medal clash with seventh seed Italy.

The compound mixed pair of Abhishek Verma and Muskan Kirar, on the other hand, failed to advance, going down to Russia 145-150 after securing a bye into the second round.

READ: Indian compound teams crash out in quarterfinals

Fresh from a stupendous show in the World Championships where India bagged one silver and two bronze medals besides securing an Olympic full quota in the men’s section, the side's performance has plummeted in the concluding stage of the World Cup.

India has already made early exits from the team and individual events of both recurve and compound section, and its only medal hope rests on the duo of Verma and Bombayla on Sunday. India also lost 145-150 against Russia in the mixed compound team event to crash out of the second round.

Having secured a bye into the second round, the Indian pair put up their best show against the Japanese as they overcame a one-set deficit to level the match 4-4 before emerging 5-4 winners in the shoot-off, where they clinched it 20-7.

In the next round, they beat their opponents from Spain 6-2, only to stumble against heavyweight Korea, who won by an identical scoreline.