Deepika delivers as India beat China to clinch Archery World Cup gold

India’s women’s recurve archery squad produced a thrilling comeback to triumph the golden medal astatine the Archery World Cup Stage 2 successful Shanghai connected Sunday. The trio of Deepika Kumari, Ankita Bhakat and 17-year-old Kumkum Mohod defeated hosts China 5-4 successful a tense shoot-off aft the lucifer ended level astatine 4-4 crossed 4 sets.The triumph was peculiar for India arsenic the squad had earlier beaten mighty South Korea — the 10-time Olympic champions — successful the semifinals. It was besides India’s archetypal women’s recurve squad World Cup golden since 2021 and their archetypal medal successful the class successful 3 years.

Deepika, India’s astir experienced archer, played a cardinal relation passim the competition. Travelling without a full-time nationalist coach, the elder archer perpetually guided and motivated her younger teammates during important moments.India started powerfully and won the opening acceptable 54-53, with Deepika hitting successive 10s to springiness the squad confidence. But China fought backmost quickly. In the 2nd set, India faltered erstwhile Kumkum managed lone an 8 and Deepika amazingly changeable a 7 successful the last arrow arsenic China levelled the contention 2-2.The hosts past edged up 4-2 aft a reappraisal upgraded China’s last arrow from 8 to 9 successful the 3rd set.India looked adjacent to decision successful the 4th acceptable contempt Deepika rediscovering signifier with 2 cleanable 10s.

China needed conscionable 1 last 9 to triumph the rubric successful beforehand of their location crowd.But young Chinese archer Yu Qi changeable an 8 nether pressure, giving India a lifeline and forcing a shoot-off.India held their nervus brilliantly successful the decider. Ankita opened with a 9, Kumkum followed with a superb 10, and Deepika calmly changeable a 9 erstwhile lone an 8 was needed to unafraid the golden medal.