Archery World Cup: Deepika, Atanu finish strong on Day 1

Ace Indian archers Deepika Kumari and Atanu Das finished fifth and sixth respectively at the end of day one, trailing only the sharp-shooting Koreans.

Atanu Das was placed sixth in the qualifying round of the Archery World Cup in Shanghai.

India got off to a decent start in the first leg of the 2017 Hyundai Archery World Cup in Shanghai on Wednesday. Ace Indian archers Deepika Kumari and Atanu Das finished fifth and sixth respectively at the end of day one, trailing only the sharp-shooting Koreans.

Deepika Kumari finished with a total 659, 14 behind leader Chang Hye Jin. Atanu Das was the best placed Indian at No. 6.

While 25-year-old Das aims to win his maiden World Cup title, the more seasoned Kumari has her sights set on winning the championship this time, after finishing as the runner up  on four previous occasions.As Das takes giant strides into the archery circuit, a partnership with Kumari seems in the offing, which would make them a formidable mixed team. 

In the men's compound event, Abhishek Verma was just two points behind leader Reo Wilde of U.S. with a score of 705. Jyothi Surekha Vennam was placed 10th in the women's category.