Our Bureau
New Delhi
India managed to bag a silver medal in the men’s recurve team event at the Archery World Cup Stage 1 after Dhiraj Bommadevara, Tarundeep Rai, and Atanu Das went down 1-5 to China in the final held on April 13 in Central Florida.
This was India’s third medal of the season-opening event, while eyeing for a fourth one as Dhiraj remained in contention in the men’s recurve individual event scheduled for later. Earlier, India had secured a gold in the compound mixed team event and a bronze in compound men’s team. Abhishek Verma narrowly missed out on a podium, finishing fourth in the compound men’s individual section.
Both India and China began on the same foot in the recurve team gold medal clash, sharing the first set 1-1 with identical scores of 54. The Indian trio had two 10s and two 9s, but faltered with a pair of 8s that turned the game away from them.
Chinese players, Li Zhongyuan, Kao Wenchao, and Wang Yan stepped up in the second set, hitting four 10s to take a 3-1 lead. India, meanwhile, again slipped into the red ring with another 8, losing the set 55-58.
China ultimately bagged the gold as the Indian team once again stumbled, managing only 54 as China edged them out 55-54. China also bagged the bronze.
