Paris Olympics 2024 Archery: Dhiraj Bommadevara and Ankita Bhakat pull off a stunning victory to take India to the semifinals of the mixed team event
In an exhilarating match, India's mixed team of Ankita Bhakat and Dhiraj defeated the Spanish duo of Gonzalez Acha and Elia Canales in the quarterfinals with a final score of 5-3 on Friday, August 2.
The match kicked off with Ankita Bhakat hitting a solid 9, followed by Dhiraj finding the center with a perfect 10. Gonzalez responded with a 9, and Elia matched the Indians' starting score with a 10. In the second round of arrows, Bhakat hit another 9, while Dhiraj nailed his second consecutive 10. Two 9s by the Spanish pair helped India take the first set 38-37.
The second set mirrored the first, with the Spaniards starting strong with a 9 and 10 this time around. Ankita began with a perfect 10, and Dhiraj followed with a 9. Gonzalez went on to hit his first 10 of the match, while Elia scored 9, bringing their total to 38. Ankita's 9 and Dhiraj's perfect shot leveled the score and the two pairs shared points from the set.
The third set saw the Spanish archers hitting two perfect 10s, while Ankita and Dhiraj both scored 9s. Gonzalez faltered with an 8, and Elia's 9 took their total to 38. Ankita scored an 8, handing the set to Spain. Despite Dhiraj’s 10, Spain won the set 37-36, leveling the score at 3-3 and taking things to the final set.
In the fourth and final set, Ankita and Dhiraj started with a 9 and 10, respectively. The Spaniards hit a 9 and 8 to trail by two points. Ankita’s 8 opened the door for the Spanish archers, but Dhiraj's 10 took India’s total to 37. Gonzalez’s 9 sealed the set for India, despite Elia ending on a high note with a 10. India’s total of 37 was enough to secure the match.
With this victory, the Indian pair have booked their place in the semifinals and will face South Korea at 7.01pm IST.
Bhajan Kaur, Deepika Kumari into the Round-of-16 at the Paris Olympics 2024
India’s women archers, Deepika Kumari and Bhajan Kaur, put on impressive performances in their first two rounds to make it to the pre-quarterfinals at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
Deepika Kumari got the better of Estonia’s Reena Parnat and Netherlands' Quinty Roeffen to set a clash against Michelle Kroppen of Germany in the last 16.
Meanwhile, 18-year-old Bhajan Kaur is all set to face Indonesia’s Diananda Choirunisa in the pre-quarterfinals. She defeated Indonesia's Syifa Kamal and Poland’s Wioleta Myszor in her first and second rounds, respectively, at the Paris Olympics 2024.