Women archers clinch Olympic quota places

India's women archers Deepika Kumari, Laishram Bombayla Devi and Chekrovolu Swuro clinched Olympic quota berths and then went on to oust reigning champions Koreans for their maiden entry into the final of the World Championships in Turin, Italy.

It was a mixed day for the Indian archers as the fancied men's team comprising Athens Olympian Tarundeep Rai, Jayanta Talukdar and Rahul Banerjee narrowly missed the quota places, going down to China 216-215.

The men's team had a second chance but there too it came a cropper. Since the hosts get three berths in the London Games, two best first round losing teams got another chance to play-off. That too did not benefit the men's trio.

The women's trio on the other hand brought back the smiles as they first beat France and then thrashed Denmark to set up a clash with the Koreans in the semis where they maintained their calm to win 216-212 en route to their first ever final.

The best ever finish for the Indian women's team was in Madrid World Championship (2005) where they ended fourth, while the men's team had settled for a silver.

Overwhelmed by the Indian women's show, President of the Archery Association of India Vijay Kumar Malhotra conveyed his congratulations.

"It was really a wonderful performance by the Indian contingent and the recurve Women's team deserves special appreciation because of its commendable victory over World Champion Korea in the semi-finals," said Malhotra.

In their first round elimination match, Indian women trailed France 51-53 in the first end of six arrows. Two teams tied 54-54 in the second end while France took a commanding lead of 56-54 in the third end for a total of 163-159.

But in the final end of six arrows, the Indian team exploded to gather a whooping 57 points as against France's 50 to end the match at 216-213.

It was a stroll in the park for the Indians in the quarter-finals against Denmark winning the contest 203-197 to set up a tough clash against world champions Korea.

Undaunted, the Indians shot the arrows like champions to lead the first end with a score of 55-53.

Korea won the second end 54-53 and thereafter success eluded the Koreans as India won the second end 52-51 and the final end 56-54 for a total of 216-212.

India will play Italy in the final on July 10. Italy outplayed China 221-213 in the semi-finals. Korea and China will play for the bronze medal play-off.

In the men's team final, Korea will take on France while Mexico and Italy will fight it out for the bronze medal.

In the mixed doubles, Indian pair of Jayanta Talukdar and Deepika Kumari lost to Poland in the quarterfinals after winning against Ukraine in the first round.

World champions Korea, China, Italy and Ukraine got six quota places, three each in men's and women's section.

Italy, France, the USA and Mexico made it to London from the men's section, while India, Denmark, Chinese Taipei and Russia qualified from the women's segment.