Paris, France, July 26: India’s archery contingent made a strong start at the Paris 2024 Olympics, securing direct entries into the quarterfinals for both the men’s and women’s team events. In the mixed team event, Dhiraj Bommadevara and Ankita Bhakat advanced to the Round of 16.
Men’s Team Performance
Dhiraj Bommadevara led the Indian men’s team with an impressive 4th place finish in the individual ranking round. Tarundeep Rai and Pravin Jadhav contributed to the team’s success, finishing 14th and 39th respectively. Their combined scores placed India 3rd in the team rankings, ensuring a direct entry into the quarterfinals.
Women’s Team Performance
The women’s team also demonstrated exceptional skill, finishing 4th in the ranking round to qualify directly for the quarterfinals. Ankita Bhakat achieved her season best, finishing 11th with 666 points. Bhajan Kaur and Deepika Kumari followed closely, securing the 22nd and 23rd spots with 659 and 658 points respectively.
Mixed Team Event
In the mixed team event, Dhiraj Bommadevara and Ankita Bhakat advanced to the Round of 16, showcasing their prowess and teamwork. Their performance adds to India’s optimistic outlook for archery at the Paris Olympics.
Opening Ceremony
The Paris Olympics Opening Ceremony is scheduled for July 26, starting at 11 PM IST. The event marks the official beginning of the Games, with India’s archery team already setting a positive tone for the country’s campaign.
Archery Qualification Rounds
The qualification rounds determine the seedings for the knockout stages. Each of the 128 archers (64 male and 64 female) shoot 72 arrows, with their scores deciding their rankings. The top-seeded archers will face the lowest-ranked archers in the knockout rounds. For team events, the combined scores of the team members are used to determine seedings. The top four seeded teams in both men’s and women’s events gain direct entry into the quarterfinals, while teams ranked 5th to 12th compete in the Round of 16.
India has yet to win an Olympic medal in archery, but the strong start in the ranking rounds raises hopes for a breakthrough performance at Paris 2024.