On Thursday, April 2, Indian para archers showcased a dominant run at the first World Para Archery Ranking Series in Bangkok, Thailand. Two Indian women’s players in the compound open Individual category have set up an All-India finals clash on April 4 after winning their respective semifinal games. World Champion Sheetal Devi and rising star Payal Nag will face each other in the title decider.
Top seed Sheetal had defeated Singapore’s Nur Syahidah Alim by 144-142, while Payal defeated second seed Zhanat Aitimova of Kazakhstan by 144-142. Besides their respective wins, the two have also advanced to the finals of the women’s compound open doubles event after defeating Thailand in the semifinals by a score of 155-146.
Sheetal received her third finals qualification in the mixed compound open event along with Toman Kumar. The Indian pair secured a win by a score of 152-143 over Japan. Meanwhile, India’s compound archers, Sarita and Jyoti, exited in their quarterfinals match against compatriots Alim and Payal, respectively.
Former world championship medalist Pooja Jatyan missed the quarterfinals game against a second-seed player from Thailand. On the other hand, Harvinder Singh and Bhawna have secured their respective spots in the individual recurve finals match at the World Para Archery Ranking Series.
Indian youngster Bhawna won the semifinal game of the women’s recurve open after defeating top seed Ziva Lavrinc of Slovenia, by a score of 6-4. Meanwhile, Paralympic Champion Harvinder secured a decisive win over South Korea’s Geonhwi Kwak by 6-0 in the men’s recurve open event.
Elsewhere, top-seed male archer Vijay Sundi lost his campaign to Indonesia’s Setiawan in the quarterfinals. Dhanna Ram Godara and Sahil also suffered disappointment in their respective quarterfinals games.
The finale is expected to be an intense battle with India competing across different categories. Sheetal has her work cut out as she has three finals games to play.
