Talented archer Atanu Das provided a silver lining on a disappointing day for the Indians by entering the pre-quarterfinals of the Individual Recurve event at the Rio Olympics. Deepika Kumari and Bombayla Devi also booked their places in the round of 16 event at the Rio Olympics.

Atanu Das

Atanu showed fine composure and skill to bounce back from a poor start in his maiden Olympics to finish fifth in the qualification round at Brazil’s historic Samba street. Lying a lowly 10th after first 36 arrows, the 24-year-old turned it around in style in the final set of 36 arrows by shooting 23 perfect 10s including 10 closest to the centre to finish fifth with 683 out of the possible 720.

Das first blanked Jit Bahadur Muktan of Nepal 6-0 in the round of 64 encounter and then kept his composure to prevail over Cuban Adrian Andres Puentes Perez 6-4 in a thrilling clash in the following round. What was impressive about Atanu was the manner in which he held his nerve during his last shot in the fifth and final set.

The score was 19-18 and a ’10 pointer’ would have ensured his place in the last 16 even before his opponent had aimed for his final strike. Atanu did not disappoint as he hit the ‘Bulls Eye’ taking an unassailable lead and winning the final set 29-28. Earlier in the day, he also scored hat-trick of Perfect 10’s in the final game against the Nepalese. However, the road ahead is full of challenges for the 24-year old from Kolkata as goes up against South Korean archer and a former world No 5 Lee Seung-Yun.

Lee was a part of the victorious South Korean outfit that won gold in the team Recurve event at the ongoing Games.

Deepika Kumari

Deepika also put up an excellent show as she defeated Italy’s Sartori Guendalina 6-2 in the 1/16 elimination after prevailing over her opponent from Georgia, Kristine Esebua, 6-4 in the 1/32 elimination round. 

First up, Deepika faced Georgia’s Kristine Esebua in a high-quality first round contest. Both archers shot plenty of 10s and matched each other with every shot to make it close, very very close. After the win, the Indian archer next faced world no. 12 Guendalina Sartori of Italy. It wasn’t an ideal start for the Indian as she lost the first set 24-27 before roaring back to dominating ways. She dominated the next three sets to pocket them 29-28, 28-26 and 28-27.

Bombayla Devi

Competing in her third Olympics, the 31-year-old, who finished 24th in the ranking round, dished out a dominating show to get the better off Chinese Taipei’s Lin Shih-Chia 6-2 in the 1/16 elimination after beating Austria’s Laurence Baldauff in 1/32 elimination round.

In the first round, Bombayla lost the first set of her event 24-27 but then won the next three to progress. She started the second set with a 10-pointer, then shot 9 and 9 to win the set 28-23. Scores of 9, 9 and 9 won her the third set as well, making it 4-2 overall. Baldauff started the fourth set with a bull’s eye but then faltered with a 6 and 8. Shots of 9 and 8 won Bombayla the set and with it the round, 6-2.

Her opponent in the Round of 32 was the silver medalist from the last World Championships but Bombayla, ranked 69th, overcame her challenge 6-2. She won the first set 28-26, the second 27-24, lost the third narrowly 26-27 and then won the fourth 28-26. Her 10 pointers in the third and fourth sets were stunning.

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