Dhiraj Bommadevara spearheaded India’s charge in the men’s recurve qualification round with second place finish at the World Archery Championships. Dhiraj finished with 683 points, five fewer than double Olympic gold medalist Kim Woo-jin in the battle that will offer the first quota places for next year’s Paris Olympics.
Teammates of Dhiraj, Tushar Shelke (650) and Mrinal Chauhan (640) finished 55th and 83rd, respectively, propelling the squad to ninth place. The 21-year-old, who almost missed out on a spot in the Tokyo Olympics, will have a simple draw by virtue of his second seeding and will begin his quest in the round of 32. The best three archers will earn quota in both team and individual competitions.
Dhiraj Stated:
”I am so happy, first of all, The conditions were so tough, in the first half it was so windy and for me it is so cold.” “It started to rain and I am happy I managed to shot how I did. I only focused on the process. I am happy but not satisfied.”
Dhiraj Bommadevara wasn’t the sole archer facing challenges from the elements, as the wind intensified during the initial session, causing a tightly packed leader board. The second half witnessed a torrential downpour, and despite the adverse conditions, higher-ranked archers demonstrated their prowess.
Indian women also struggled in the qualifying round, with Ankita Bhakat securing the 31st spot with a score of 639, which was significantly lower than Mexican archer Alejandra Valencia’s impressive 675 points.
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