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Ankita Bhakat's impressive performance at the Final Olympic Qualifier in Paris has secured her an individual quota for the upcoming Paris Games. The ninth-seeded archer cruised to a 6-0 victory over Gabrielle Monica Bidaure of the Philippines in the pre-quarterfinals, earning India a quota in both men's and women's archery.Bhakat's journey to the quarterfinals included victories over Shelley Hilton and Mikaella Moshe of Israel. She will now face top-seed Mobina Fallah of Iran in the quarters. Bhajan, the third seed, also advanced to the pre-quarters after defeating Urantungalag Bishindee of Mongolia.While Bhakat and Bhajan continue their quest for a podium finish, India's premier archer Deepika Kumari suffered a disappointing opening round defeat to Yaylagul Ramazanova of Azerbaijan. Kumari, the former world No. 1, led 4-0 but faltered in the next two sets, allowing Ramazanova to level the match. The Azerbaijan archer then won the fifth set for a 6-4 victory.Despite the setback, India's men's and women's teams still have a chance to qualify for the Paris Games through the World Rankings. The men's team, currently ranked No. 2, and the women's team, ranked No. 8, can earn berths if they maintain their positions until the cutoff date of June 24.The top two nations from among those without team quotas will qualify for the Olympics based on their World Rankings after the third stage of the World Cup, which begins on Tuesday. India's nearest competitors in the men's rankings are China and Japan, while Indonesia, Colombia, and Italy are vying for the second spot in the women's rankings.

The Indian women's compound archery team continued their golden run, securing their third consecutive Archery World Cup gold medal at the stage two event in Antalya, Turkey. The trio of Jyothi Surekha Vennam, Parneet Kaur, and Aditi Swami dominated the Turkish team of Hazal Burun, Ayse Bera Suzer, and Begum Yuva, winning 232-226 in a lopsided final.The Indian team, ranked number one in the world, showcased their superiority from the outset, winning the first end and maintaining their lead throughout the match. They did not drop a single set, sealing the gold with a comfortable six-point margin.This victory marks a hat-trick of World Cup gold medals for Jyothi, Parneet, and Aditi, who had previously triumphed at the season-opening World Cup Stage 1 in Shanghai and the stage four event in Paris last year.The Indian team's success is a testament to their consistent performance and unwavering determination. They have established themselves as a formidable force in compound archery, consistently delivering podium finishes at major international events.In addition to the women's team gold, India is also eyeing a second gold medal in the compound mixed team event. Jyothi and Priyansh will face the USA in the final later in the day, aiming to add to India's medal tally.

World-renowned archery coach Kim Hyung Tak believes that India has a strong chance of securing its first-ever Olympic medal in archery at the Paris 2024 Games. The Korean coach, who has over 40 years of experience, recently conducted a coaches' seminar at the Sports Authority of India's National Centre of Excellence in Sonepat, Haryana.Kim praised the Indian recurve team's technical training and communication between archers and coaches. He emphasized the importance of consistency in training and preparation, stating that it is crucial for achieving success at the Olympics."By keeping this consistency in training and preparation, I think it is very much possible to get a medal in Paris," Kim told SAI Media.India has already secured one Paris 2024 quota place in archery through Dhiraj Bommadevara. The Indian recurve archers are now aiming for a team quota in the final qualification tournament in Antalya, Turkey, from June 14 to 17.Kim believes that the Indian team has improved significantly, thanks to the talented archers and frequent coaching camps organized by the Sports Authority of India and Archery Association of India. He also highlighted the importance of collaboration between coaches and archers."The average level of the team has got a notch higher because of the talented men's and women's recurve team here. The frequent coaching camps by Sports Authority of India and Archery Association of India too are contributing to the cause and constant collaboration is only helping the team get that elusive medal at the Olympics," Kim said.Kim, who led the Korean women's recurve team to its first Olympic gold at the 1984 Los Angeles Games, also supervised a two-day national team preparation camp at Sonepat. He was impressed by the coaching program at SAI, Sonepat, which has produced consistent results in recent times."Since I've come here, I've seen more high level and detailed training provided to the archers. The training programs, which use a lot of technology, are also very well crafted. The coaches are continuously mentoring the archers on managing training schedules to training times. The psychology team is also working around the clock and good mentoring is being provided as a whole," Kim said.Kim's optimism for Indian archery is based on the presence of young archers and experienced veterans like Deepika Kumari and Tarundeep Rai. He believes that the team's strong performances and the support of the coaching staff will help them achieve their goal of an Olympic medal in Paris.

Dhiraj Bommadevara, the lone Indian recurve archer to secure an Olympic quota for Paris 2024, played a pivotal role in India's historic triumph at the Archery World Cup Stage 1 in Shanghai. The Indian men's recurve team, comprising Bommadevara, Tarundeep Rai, and Pravin Ramesh Jadhav, defeated archery powerhouse Korea in the title round, reclaiming the gold medal after a 14-year hiatus.Bommadevara, a beneficiary of the Sports Ministry's Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS), also bagged a bronze medal in the mixed team event alongside Ankita Bhakat. India's victory over Mexico in straight sets marked their second medal in Shanghai.In an exclusive interview with SAI Media, Bommadevara shared his insights on the team's success, their mindset, and their aspirations for the Paris Olympics.On the Historic Gold Medal:"We're overjoyed," Bommadevara exclaimed. "We executed our plan and maintained our focus throughout the competition."On the Team's Mindset:"We focused solely on our game and ignored our opponents," Bommadevara explained. "We maintained clear communication and supported each other through every situation."On Team Bonding:"Tarundeep Rai, Pravin, and I are all from the Indian Army, so we spend a lot of time together," Bommadevara said. "We've developed a strong chemistry that translates into our performances."On Being the Youngest Member:"I'm grateful for the opportunity to learn from my experienced teammates," Bommadevara stated. "I'm constantly striving to improve and avoid repeating mistakes."On India's Chances at Paris 2024:"Our chances are promising," Bommadevara asserted. "We're working towards converting our individual quota into a team quota. Our priority is to qualify as a team and then give our best in Paris. We're not setting expectations but preparing for every scenario."On the Impact of Tarundeep Rai:"Tarundeep Rai's experience is invaluable," Bommadevara said. "He shares his tactical and philosophical insights, which helps us immensely. His dedication inspires us to push ourselves."On the Mental Strength of Indian Archers:"We're focused on improving ourselves rather than comparing ourselves to others," Bommadevara explained. "We learn from our mistakes and strive to perform better."On the Impact of the Compound Team:"Our compound team is world-class," Bommadevara said. "Their success motivates us to raise our own standards. Jyothi Surekha's ability to handle pressure in various events is truly inspiring."On the Support from TOPS:"TOPS has provided me with financial stability and allowed me to focus solely on my game," Bommadevara said. "It has alleviated the financial burden on my family and enabled me to pursue my Olympic dream."

In a historic triumph, the Indian men's recurve archery team stunned reigning Olympic champions South Korea 5-1 (57-57, 57-55, 55-53) to claim the gold medal at the Archery World Cup Stage 1 in Shanghai. This victory marks India's first World Cup men's team gold in 14 years and significantly boosts their chances of qualifying for the Paris Olympics.The Indian trio of Dhiraj Bommadevara, Tarundeep Rai, and Pravin Jadhav displayed remarkable resilience and precision against a formidable Korean team that included Tokyo Games gold medalists Kim Je-deok and Kim Woo-jin. Despite the absence of a coach due to a rule violation, the Indians remained composed and focused on their own performance.In the first set, both teams tied 1-1 with a score of 57. However, the Indians seized the momentum in the second set, delivering four 10s (three Xs) to Korea's two 8s, winning 57-55. They maintained their dominance in the third set, scoring 55-53, as the Koreans struggled to find a 10.Dhiraj Bommadevara, who has already secured an individual Paris Games quota, expressed his delight at the team's achievement. "This result gives us a big boost in the Olympic year," he said. "This medal feels good, especially with the amount of work we've been doing in the past couple of years, keeping just this Olympics in mind."The Indian men's team's victory is a testament to their hard work and determination. With two more spots available through world rankings and three more at the final qualification tournament, they are well-positioned to secure a quota for the Paris Olympics.Meanwhile, Deepika Kumari made a triumphant return to the World Cup stage after two years, winning the women's recurve silver medal. She defeated Korean archers Jeon Hunyoung and Nam Suhyeon before falling to Lim Si-hyeon in the final.

Tarundeep Rai, India's veteran archer, has made a remarkable comeback after being excluded from the Asian Games team last year. The snub ignited a fire within him, leading him to adopt drastic lifestyle changes and intensify his training.Rai, a three-time Olympian, was devastated by his omission from the Hangzhou Asian Games despite his strong performances. "I was boiling with anger," he recalled. "I decided to give it one last shot."To regain his fitness and competitiveness, Rai embarked on a strict diet and dedicated more time to the gym. He shed 12kg in two months, determined to prove his worth.His efforts paid off when he made the cut for the Indian team for the World Cup and Olympics after a two-month trial. In Shanghai, Rai and his teammates Dhiraj Bommadevara and Pravin Jadhav created history by defeating reigning Olympic champions South Korea to win the World Cup gold.Rai attributed their success to their unwavering focus and the inclusion of a sports psychologist. "We didn't think about winning over Korea," he said. "We just went there to replicate what we have been doing at practice."The victory marked the first time an Indian men's team had defeated archery powerhouse Korea in a World Cup final. It also boosted their chances of qualifying for the Paris Olympics.Rai, who began his international career in 2003, is now in the best shape of his life. "I feel amazing right now," he said. "I've got this childlike energy that keeps me going."His journey serves as an inspiration to athletes of all ages, proving that with determination and hard work, anything is possible.