“Thoda sa nervous ho gayi thi”: Four-time Olympian Deepika Kumari after shooting a ‘5’ at Paris 2024 Olympics archery ranking round
Indian archer Deepika Kumari, a veteran in the sport, faced a moment of tension during the individual ranking rounds of the Paris 2024 Olympics on Thursday, July 25. Despite her extensive experience, the nerves got to her during a crucial moment.
At 30 years old, Deepika is competing in her fourth Olympic Games and is still in search of her first Olympic medal. She previously entered both the London 2012 and Tokyo 2020 Olympics as the World No.1. Currently ranked 12th in the world, there were high expectations for her performance in Paris, given her status as India's top archer.
However, the pressure of the moment was evident as Deepika shot a ‘5’ during one of her attempts. Speaking to Sportstar, she admitted that she let her nerves get the better of her.
“Thoda sa nervous ho gayi thi (I got a little nervous). Senior ko dar nahin lagta kya? (Can’t seniors get scared?). One shot was quite bad as I forced it out, and that shook me up,” Deepika Kumari shared candidly.
Fortunately, she was able to regain her composure quickly, following up with a solid score of ‘9’ on her next attempt.
What was Deepika Kumari’s position in the Paris 2024 Olympics women’s archery individual ranking round?
Deepika Kumari's performance in the ranking round at the Paris 2024 Olympics was not her best. She managed to score 658 out of a possible 720 points, placing her 23rd among the competitors. This was a surprising outcome for many, given her seasoned status and previous Olympic experiences.
Ankita Bhakat stole the limelight with an 11th-place finish by securing her season-best score of 666. Meanwhile, Bhajan Kaur was just above Deepika at the 22nd spot with 659 points.
Looking ahead, Deepika Kumari will face Parnat Reena of Estonia in the Round of 64 women’s individual match on July 31. This match will be crucial for Deepika as she aims to advance and potentially secure her long-awaited Olympic medal.
In the team event, the Indian women's archery team, comprising Deepika, Ankita Bhakat, and Bhajan Kaur, finished fourth in the ranking rounds with a combined score of 1983 points. This strong performance has earned them a direct spot in the quarter-finals, where they will face either France or the Netherlands.