Deepika reaches individual archery quarterfinals

Indian archer Deepika Kumari reached the individual quarterfinals with a 6-4 win over Germany’s Michelle Kroppen, but it was curtains for Bhajan Kaur at the Paris Olympics here on Saturday.

Bhajan lost the shoot-off to Indonesia’s Diananda Choirunisa. Desperate to salvage India’s floundering campaign in the archery range, Deepika will face Korea’s Suhyeon Nam in the quarterfinals. Meanwhile the 18-year-old Bhajan did well to stretch her Indonesian rival to shoot-off but fluffed the first shot by managing an eight when she needed a 10 to secure her passage into the last-eight.

“Certainly I was lacking in something, that’s why I lost. I will work on that when I go back home,” Bhajan said after her 1/8 elimination round match.

Asked if she felt the nerves going into the shoot-off, she said, “Wo toh poore match mein hi rehta hai (nervousness remains throughout),” she said with a chuckle.

“I was not thinking of shooting a 10, I was just focussed on following the process,” she said.

“I have learnt a lot from this campaign,” she added but could not explain what, and again let out a smile.

After disappointing results in other team events, the mixed team of Ankita Bhakat and Dhiraj Bommadevara on Friday was in line to win a bronze but finished fourth.

Coach Purmina Mahato said they had told the archers not to think about the results and just stay focussed on shooting.

“We told them, do not think about win or loss, just shoot. It’s 90 percent mind game. You have to be mentally strong.

“Bhajan fought well but missed that last shot. We were actually assured that she will do well.” Deepika is last Indian archer remaining in hunt.