India fail to hit the bullseye

Trio of Deepika, Bombayla and Laxmirani go down to Russia in quarterfinals

India staged a brave fight but could not cross the Russian hurdle as they bowed out in the quarterfinals of the Olympic Games archery team event here on Sunday.

At the famous Sambodromo on a cloudy and windy evening, India lost 23-25 in a shoot-off after the set scores had been level 4-4 in regulation play.

The silver medalists at the World Championships in Copenhagen last year, India had lost to Russia in the final then. Their poor display in the ranking round meant they ran into the world champions pretty early in the competition and that made a big difference on the day.

Still, India had a chance to upset the Russians when they led 4-2 going into the final set. With a set win getting two points and a draw earning one, a draw would have been sufficient for India to make it to the semifinals but they could not force open the door, losing the set 54-55 to allow Russia draw level 4-4 in set scores.

In the shoot-off, where each of the three archers in a team fires one arrow each, the Russians had scores of 10, 6 and 9 to total 25 but the three Indians – Bombayla Devi, Laxmirani Majhi and Deepika Kumari – shot 7, 8 and 8 to finish on 23. Bombayla had been India’s best archer on the day but her slip up at the vital moment cost India dear.

Russia had begun the knockout contest in impressive fashion. Tuliana Dashdorzhieva, Ksenia Perova and Inna Stepanova fired 9, 9 and 10 to start off and the Indians matched it, Bombayla firing a 9, Laxmi also 9 and Deepika a 10. The Russians then delivered 9, 9 and 9 while the Indians erred with a 7, 7 and 6. As Russians took the set 56-48 for a 2-0 lead, a washout seemed in order for India.

The Indian threesome then stepped it up in the second set. Bombayla was outstanding as she fired a 10 and a 9. Laxmirani also fired an 8 and a 10 while Deepika, struggling, shot a 7 and a 9. It was the Russians turn to crack then. Dashdorzheva and Stepanova both had sevens as India won the set 53-52 to level the set scores 2-2.

India maintained the momentum in the third set too, despite Laxmirani shooting a six. The brilliant Bombayla fired another 10 and a nine while Deepika rose to the occasion, nailing a 10 when India needed an eight to win the set. India took the set 53-50 to take the set scores to 4-2.

The Russians were rock steady in the fourth, posting a 55. India, after wavering in the first three arrows, needed to shoot all tens to be on par. Both Bombayla and Laxmirani obliged but Deepika was marginally off, firing a nine. Russia took the set 55-54 to push the tie into a shoot-off and squeeze into the semis.

Earlier, India defeated Colombia 5-3 to progress into the quarterfinals. In a tough contest, the Colombian nerves cracked in the final stages, allowing India to move up.
India won the first set 52-51, fetching them two points while the Colombians hit back in the second, winning it 50-49 to make it 2-2.

The third set was a tie at 52-52, earning one point each for the teams. In the deciding fourth set, India again scored 52 while the Colombians faltered, managing only 44. The two points earned India a 5-3 verdict. Bombayla was the best Indian performer as she shot steady scores while Deepika struggled initially, but she recovered as the match progressed. As tensions rose in the decider, Colombia’s Ana Maria Rendon shot a shocking three that nailed her team’s chances.