Another disappointing out for Deepika Kumari, finishes fourth at the Archery World Cup Stage 2

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Deepika Kumari

The former world No. 1, Deepika Kumari, one of India’s most accomplished archers, experienced a disappointing defeat at the Archery World Cup Stage II in Yecheon, South Korea. Deepika, who recently made her international comeback after becoming a mother, lost to world No. 2 Lim Sihyeon of South Korea and No. 3 Alejandra Valencia.

Deepika Kumari’s performance in Semis

The semi-final match against Lim was a tense affair that ended with a score of 6-2 (28-26, 28-28, 28-27, 27-27). Despite a strong start, Deepika’s performance faltered with three 8s, shooting in the red circle in the first, third, and fourth sets. This marked Lim’s second consecutive victory over Deepika in less than a month.

In the bronze medal match, Deepika faced Alejandra Valencia. Despite a strong comeback in the middle of the match, Deepika lost 4-6 (26-29, 26-28, 28-25, 27-25, 26-29). This was Valencia’s second win over Deepika in four matches.

These losses meant that India returned empty-handed in the Olympic discipline recurve category from the World Cup Stage II. However, it’s worth noting that India secured two medals (one gold and one silver) in the compound section of the World Cup Stage 2.

Deepika’s defeat at the World Cup serves as a stark reminder of the high level of competition in international archery. As she prepares for her fourth consecutive Olympics in Paris, these losses should serve as a wake-up call. Deepika will be training under South Korean coaching legend Kim Hyung Tak for a second stint in six months before she heads to the final Olympics qualification at the World Cup Stage 3 in Antalya in June.

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