Decoding India's mixed archery team's campaign at Paris Olympics
The Indian pairing of Dhiraj Bommadevara and Ankita Bhakat reached the semi-finals of the mixed-team archery competition at the 2024 Paris Olympics. They missed out on a podium finish after losing to the United States in the bronze medal match. Nevertheless, Bommadevara and Bhakat put up an impressive show and won two games. Let's decode their performance at the mixed-team archery event (Paris Olympics).
Maiden semi-final appearance
It was the second time the mixed archery team event was held at the Olympic Games. While India bowed out in the quarter-finals at the 2020 Tokyo Games, they went one step ahead this time and finished among the top-four teams. Notably, Pravin Jadhav and Deepika Kumari represented India in this event in the 2020 Games.
India's triumphs in 2024 event
Bommadevara and Bhakat were up against the Indonesian pairing of Arif Dwi Pangestu and Diananda Choirunisa in the 1/8 elimination round. The Indian contingent dominated the proceedings and clinched a 5-1 win. They then defeated Spanish archers Pablo Acha and Elia Canales 5-3 in the quarter-final round and advanced to the semis.
Defeats in semi-final and bronze medal match
India met eventual gold medalists Lim Si-hyeon and Kim Woojin of South Korea in the semi-final game. The Indian archers failed to display a solid fight and suffered a 2-6 defeat. They then met USA's Brady Ellison and Casey Kaufhold in the bronze-medal game. The American duo put up an emphatic display and walked away with a 6-2 win. India hence finished fourth.