Kolkata: A long, excruciating five-year wait is finally over. The trio of Deepika Kumari, Ankita Bhakat, and 17-year-old Kumkum Mohod secured a top-of-the-podium finish by defeating hosts China in the final of the Archery World Cup Stage II in Shanghai on Sunday.
In an exciting summit clash, India rallied from a 2-4 deficit to outclass China 5-4 (28-26) in shoot-offs after the four-set regulation ended 4-4. India thus finished their campaign with two medals after compound archer Sahil Jadhav opened the country's account by winning a bronze on Saturday.
Heading in a Good Direction
India's women recurve archers have made a brave statement of intent just five months ahead of the Asian Games in Japan. Edging China and South Korea to a World Cup gold will do a world of good to their confidence.
The trio of Deepika Kumari, Ankita Bhakat, and teenager Kumkum Mohod showed ice-cool nerves in an edge-of-the-seat shoot-off to beat home favorites China and clinch the women's recurve team gold medal at the Archery World Cup Stage 2 in Shanghai on Sunday. India edged out the home side 5-4 (28-26) in the shoot-off after the four-set regulation ended 4-4.
"This win is important before the Asian Games as the women defeated South Korea and China, the two powerhouses in this tournament," former Olympian Rahul Banerjee told TOI. Banerjee, who has taken over as recurve coach, is happy with the team's scores. "What pleased me more is that they have shot 57, 58 almost consistently throughout the tournament. It is very significant."
The Chinese team of Zhu Jingyi, Huang Yuwei, and Yu Qi, who all made their World Cup debuts only last year, has been in tremendous form this season having won gold in Stage I at Puebla, Mexico.
Olympian Deepika Kumari picked up her 12th World Cup medal, thereby matching compound archer Jyothi Surekha Vennam for the most number of World Cup titles for India. She has been part of all seven World Cup titles that the Indian recurve women's teams have won over the years. Deepika led from the front, shooting last in the order, which calmed the nerves of her less experienced teammates.
After winning the opening set (54-53), India slipped in the second, losing 52-55, helping China restore parity. The hosts took the lead 4-2 with a 57-56 win in the third but allowed India to come back in the match by losing the fourth set from a winning position 53-54.
China again gave India an opening with an 8-9-9 score in the shoot-off, and Kumari needed to shoot at least a nine to give India their first World Cup recurve women's team gold since Paris 2021. The four-time Olympian did not disappoint. "I'm heading in a good direction," a relieved Deepika, who averaged a brilliant 9.22, said.
However, the 31-year-old is still not happy with her performance. "I'm still struggling. I'm trying to gather myself to do better and better, and I hope for the best," she stated.
Kumkum, competing in her first World Cup medal event, emerged as one of the stories of the tournament. She credited her senior teammates for helping her remain composed in crunch moments. "They told me, 'You just shoot and don't worry.' I learned a lot from them." "When one of us missed, the others covered for her," Ankita said.
Recurve archer Simranjeet Kaur was, however, unfortunate to miss out on an individual medal after losing her semifinal and bronze medal playoff match.
