Asian Archery Championship: Dhiraj, Ankita make history as India claims top spot

Paris Olympians B. Dhiraj and Ankita Bhakat became the first-ever Indian male and female recurve archers to win individual titles at the Asian archery championships in Dhaka on Friday.

Ankita stunned Korea’s Paris Olympic silver medallist Nam Suhyeon 7-3, while Dhiraj defeated compatriot Rahul 6-2 in the finals to win gold.

Indian recurve archers added three more medals — including men’s team gold, Rahul’s silver and Sangeeta’s individual bronze.

Overall, India and powerhouse Korea were tied with 10 medals apiece but the former, which secured five medals apiece in recurve and compound, took the top spot for claiming six gold medals against the latter’s two.

Giving a stellar performance, Ankita held her nerve to get past a more experienced compatriot, Deepika Kumari, 6-5 via shoot-off in the semifinals before defeating Suhyeon 7-3 in another tight contest.

Dhiraj beat Jang Chaehwan, a less experienced Korean, 6-2 in the last-four before getting the better of fellow Indian Rahul.

India, comprising Yashdeep Bhoge, Atanu Das and Rahul, edged past Korea 5-4 via shoot-off in a neck-and-neck men’s team summit clash.

The results: Recurve: Individual: Men: Final: B. Dhiraj bt Rahul 6-2 (28-28, 29-26, 28-28, 28-26).

Semifinals: Dhiraj bt Jang Chaehwan (Kor) 6-2, Rahul bt Seo Mingi 6-0.

Women: Final: Ankita Bhakat bt Nam Suhyeon (Kor) 7-3 (29-27, 26-26, 26-28, 29-28, 29-28).

Bronze-medal match: Sangeeta bt Deepika Kumari 6-5 (shoot-off: 10*-10, shot closer to centre).

Semifinals: Ankita bt Deepika 6-5 (shoot-off: 9*-9), Nam Suhyeon bt Sangeeta 6-0.

Team: Men: Final: India (Yahdeep Bhoge, Atanu Das, Rahul) bt Korea (Seo Mingi, Kim Yeachan, Jang Jiho) 5-4 (56-56, 56-56, 51-57, 57-53, shoot-off: 29*-29).

Mixed team: Bronze-medal match: Korea (Jang Minhee, Seo Mingi) bt India (Anshika Kumari, Yashdeep Bhoge) 6-0 (38-35, 38-37, 39-34).