The Indian mixed archery team, consisting of Ankita Bhakat and Dhiraj Bommadevara, narrowly missed out on a bronze medal, losing 2-6 to the USA in the playoff. This team made history by becoming the first Indian mixed archery team to reach the semifinals of the Olympics. Despite their commendable performance, they couldn't secure a medal, finishing fourth in the competition.
In the playoff for the bronze, the Indian team faced the top-ranked American pair, Casey Kaufhold and Brady Ellison, who is a three-time Olympic medalist. The match ended with scores of 37-38, 35-37, 38-34, and 35-37 in favour of the USA. This performance still marks the best-ever showing by an Indian archery team at the Olympics.
Throughout the match, Ankita Bhakat struggled with consistency, shooting two 7s and managing only a couple of 10s over the four sets. In contrast, her teammate Dhiraj Bommadevara displayed remarkable consistency, shooting multiple 10s. Despite trailing 0-4 initially, the Indian duo fought back to win the third set. Ankita's strong shot of 10 in this set showcased their potential, but it wasn't enough to turn the match in their favour.
Earlier, in the semifinals, the Indian team lost 2-6 to the defending champions, South Korea. The match scores were 38-36, 35-38, 37-38, and 38-39. The Koreans, featuring Lim Sihyeon and Kim Woo-jin, displayed a powerful performance despite a shaky start. The Indians managed to take one set off the world number one combination but couldn't maintain the momentum.
The Indian team's journey to the semifinals was marked by a historic win against Spain in the quarterfinals, with scores of 5-3 (38-37, 38-38, 36-37, and 37-36). In this match, Ankita and Dhiraj showcased their skill and composure, taking the first set with two 10s and two 9s.
The second set ended in a tie, but a below-par performance in the third set allowed the Spanish team to draw level. However, the Indians held their nerves in the final set to secure a semifinal spot, marking their best-ever performance in the quadrennial showpiece.
In their opening round, the Indian team defeated Indonesia with a score of 5-1 (37-36, 38-38, and 38-37). This victory set the tone for their impressive run in the tournament.
Despite missing out on a medal, Ankita Bhakat and Dhiraj Bommadevara have set a new benchmark for Indian archery with their historic performance at the Olympics.
Their journey to the semifinals and their resilience in facing some of the world's best archery teams will serve as an inspiration for future Indian archers. The experience gained from competing at such a high level will undoubtedly contribute to their growth and future successes in the sport.
Follow us
