Senior Women’s Recurve final: Deepika Kumari suffers setback

Shillong :Title favourite Deepika Kumari suffered an upset in the Senior Women’s Recurve final of the National Ranking Finals, losing to Laxmirani Majhi today.

Jharkhand’s Kumari took the first set, but lost the second, third and fifth, with a tie in the fourth, as Majhi (RSPB) got the gold medal.

In the men’s event, Atanu Das (PSPB) took first place comfortably over Mangal Singh Champia (RSPB) in the afternoon final.

The National Rankings Finals served as a test event for the upcoming South Asian Games and proceedings went smoothly over the two-day event. The competition was intense as 96 of the cream of India’s archers took to the field in sunny, slightly windy conditions.

Satbir Kaur (RSPB) took the bronze medal in the women’s senior recurve, with Atul Verma (SSCB) came third in the men’s event.

Rajat Chauhan of Rajasthan, meanwhile, bagged the gold in the Senior Men’s Compound event, followed by Abhishek Verma (Delhi) and Sarvesh Pareer (Rajasthan) in second and third places, respectively.

Swati Dudhwal (Rajasthan), Trisha Deb (Punjab) and P Lily Chanu (Manipur) came first, second and third, respectively, in the corresponding women’s event.

The awards distribution ceremony followed the day’s finals, with prizes (including cash awards) distributed to the top archers and coaches by Meghalaya State Olympic Association Working President John Kharshiing, South Asian Games (Shillong) CEO R K Sharma, SAG (Shillong) Joint CEO Freddy R Kharkongor, besides officials from the Archery Association of India, Archery Association of Meghalaya and Archery Association of Assam.

Tuesday and Wednesday will see selection trials at the same venue for the upcoming South Asian Games.

PTI