The Indian women’s recurve archery team earned the 2016 Rio Olympics berth at the World Championships earlier today. The Indian women’s team took on 7th seeded Germany and the Indian trio of Deepkia Kumari, Laxmirani Mahji and Rimil Buriuly cameback from 1-3 down to win the match 5-3 and progressed the last eight of the tournament.
The Indian women’s team coached by Poorinma Mahto, made a comeback after Germany’s Karina Winter, Elena Richter and Lisa Unruh took the first set 46-59. The Indian’s women team equaled at 5-5 to make it 3-1, the Germans won the third set by a narrow 51-49 to make it 3-3.
India were at the top of the game taking the fourth set in a thrilling 53-52 to earn their quota places for Rio Olympics next year. However, the Indians men’s team failed to advance after taking a commanding lead but was not able to make best use of it. The experienced men’s team of Rahul Banerjee, Mangal Singh Champal and Jayanta Taludkar however had heartbreak as they squandered 4-2 to second seed Italy.
Three of these men who failed to earn berths as a team could still earn individual berths if they finish among the 32 in the individual event starting from Thursday. It is great news for Indian sports to see women’s archery team to qualify for the Rio Olympics and hope that Indian men’s in singles event could earn Rio Olympic berth. Both had qualified in the elimination rounds after winning their matches yesterday.