Deepika Kumari returns with a storm and targets Paris next

By
Teja Devathoti
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16
Deepika Kumari

The most decorated Indian archer, Deepika Kumari made a golden return to the international circuit by winning two medals at the Asia Cup Leg 1 event in Baghdad. Deepika secured the individual title in women’s recurve with a 6-2 (24-26, 27-26, 29-27, 29-24) victory over compatriot Simranjeet Kaur on Sunday.

Overall India finished the Archery Asia Cup 2024 with 14 medals, including nine golds, four silvers, and one bronze.

Deepika Kumari returns and Indian athletes dominate at the Asia Cup Leg 1

Deepika, returning to the international circuit after a prolonged break, as the mother of a year-old baby girl a memorable one by winning the women’s final. She quickly adapted to the challenging playing conditions, despite high winds, and scored a total of 657 points in the ranking round.

Deepika helped the women’s team overcome Uzbekistan 5-4 (24*-24) in a tight shoot-off finish en route to her second gold in the competition.

Reflecting on her comeback, Deepika said, “It was a good feeling to win the gold medal, and the tournament overall was positive, but in terms of my expectations, I believe I could have performed slightly better. I need to further develop myself if I aim to win a major tournament in the coming months.”

Other results:

Recurve men’s team and mixed team beat Bangladesh in one-sided finals for two more gold. While the men’s team won in straight sets 6-0, the mixed pair dropped on set to win 6-2. Dhiraj Bommadevara clinched the men’s title, defeating his senior Army colleague Tarudeep Rai 7-3. Prathamesh Jawkar claimed the compound individual title, pipping teammate Kushal Dalal 146-144. Parneet Kaur prevailed over Fatemeh Hemmati of Iran 138-135 to secure the compound women’s title.

Deepika Kumari sets her target on Paris Olympics

It must be stated that no Indian woman archer has secured a berth at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games so far, but the final qualification tournament in Antalya offers three teams and two individuals the chance to book tickets to France. Deepika Kumari, who previously made it to the last 3 Olympic games, is eyeing for another shot which makes her fourth consecutive appearance.

Deepika said she had the hunger and the desire to do better in the Olympic Games than in her earlier appearances in London in 2012, Rio de Janeiro in 2016, and Tokyo in 2021. She bowed out in the first round in London, at the pre-quarterfinal stage in Rio de Janeiro, and in the quarterfinals in Tokyo where four of the nine arrows she shot in the match against An San (Korea) fetched her 7s.

With a terrific performance at the Asia Cup, Deepika Kumari climbed 405 places to reach the current ranking of 145. Though this success is a huge confidence boost, the Olympic path for the veteran will be more challenging when her path crosses that of the Koreans, Chinese, the Chinese Taipei archers, and other top guns in the months ahead.

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