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Deepika Kumari, India's star archer, has vowed to continue her pursuit of an elusive Olympic medal despite enduring a disappointing performance at the Paris Games. Having competed in four consecutive Olympics without reaching the podium, Kumari remains determined to break the jinx in Los Angeles in 2028.Kumari's Olympic struggles have been attributed to her inability to handle pressure situations. However, she is confident that she can overcome this mental hurdle and perform to her full potential. "I want to play more in the future and will continue my game," she said. "I really want to win an Olympic medal, and I won't quit until I achieve that."To improve her chances of success, Kumari plans to focus on three key areas: maintaining composure, improving her shooting form and concentration, and enjoying the game. She also acknowledges the need to develop her "quick shooting" skills, which proved to be a weakness in Paris.Despite her Olympic setbacks, Kumari has enjoyed a successful career, winning numerous World Cup medals. She made a remarkable comeback after giving birth to her daughter in 2022, winning an individual gold at the Shanghai World Cup in April.At the Paris Olympics, Kumari faced a challenging ranking round, qualifying as the 23rd seed. She struggled in the team event but showed resilience in the individual category, reaching the quarterfinals. However, she was defeated by Korean archer Nam Suhyeon in a closely contested match.Kumari believes that the absence of India's sports psychologist, Gayatri Vartak, did not significantly impact their performance. She emphasized that they stayed in touch with Vartak throughout the Games.With her sights set on LA 2028, Kumari is determined to make amends for her past Olympic disappointments. She is confident that she can develop the mental strength and technical skills necessary to achieve her dream of an Olympic medal.

Deepika Kumari's Olympic Dream Ends in Quarterfinals HeartbreakIndian archery veteran Deepika Kumari's hopes of an Olympic medal were dashed on Saturday as she suffered a disappointing 4-6 defeat to Korea's Suhyeon Nam in the women's individual event quarterfinals at the Paris Olympics.Kumari, who had qualified for the quarterfinals with a 6-4 victory over Germany's Michelle Kroppen earlier in the day, was unable to replicate her success against Nam, who had defeated her in straight sets in the semifinals of the Shanghai World Cup in April.The match was a closely contested affair, with both archers tied 4-4 after four sets. However, Nam's consistency proved to be the difference, as she claimed the fifth set to advance to the semifinals.Kumari, who has faced criticism for her below-par performance in the team event, struggled to find her rhythm throughout the match. Scores of six and seven in the second and fourth sets proved costly, as she was unable to maintain the pressure on Nam.The 30-year-old Indian began the match strongly, winning the first set 28-26. However, Nam responded with a 28-25 victory in the second set, leveling the scores. Kumari regained the lead in the third set with a 29-28 win, but Nam once again fought back to take the fourth set 27-29.In the decider, Kumari's hopes of a comeback were dashed as she scored 9, 9, and 9, while Nam produced scores of 10, 9, and 10 to seal the victory.Kumari's defeat marks the end of India's archery campaign at the Paris Olympics. The team had earlier been eliminated in the quarterfinals of the mixed team event, while Atanu Das and Pravin Jadhav failed to progress beyond the first round of the men's individual event.

Archery, a sport of precision and minute margins, witnessed a heart-wrenching defeat for India's Dhiraj Bommadevara in the Round of 32 at the ongoing Commonwealth Games. In a nail-biting shoot-off against Canada's Eric Peters, both archers hit a perfect 10. However, Peters' arrow landed a mere 2.4 cm closer to the center (X), resulting in Dhiraj's elimination.The target face in archery measures 122 cm in diameter, with the 10-ring spanning 12.2 cm. Archers stand a staggering 70m away from the target, making the distance equivalent to approximately 3/4ths of a football field."The bow and release must align perfectly with the X, with a precision of at least 2 mm," explains Sanjeeva Singh, an archery Dronacharya awardee. "Even a 0.01 percent error in finger release can result in the arrow missing the X."In contrast to Dhiraj's misfortune, India's Deepika Kumari experienced a stroke of luck in the Round of 64. She won a shoot-off with an 8, despite her Estonian opponent Reena Parnat also shooting an 8. Deepika's arrow was closer to the center (123.3mm) than Parnat's (146.7mm).Deepika's luck continued in the next round when her Dutch opponent Quinty Roeffen shot a zero, her arrow landing outside the 10 concentric circles. This rare occurrence propelled Deepika to the Round of 16 in the individual competition.Despite hitting only three 10s in 12 arrows against Roeffen, Deepika's performance was sufficient to advance. She joins Bhajan Kaur as the second Indian female archer to reach the quarterfinals. Deepika's next challenge will be against world No. 13 Michelle Kroppen, a formidable opponent who will test her limits.

Ace Indian archer Deepika Kumari has advanced to the pre-quarterfinals of the women's individual event at the Olympic Games in Paris. Her impressive performance on Wednesday saw her emerge victorious in two consecutive matches.In her first match, Deepika faced a tough challenge from Reena Parnat of Estonia. The match went down to a shoot-off, where Deepika's nerves held strong as she secured a 9-8 victory.The second match against Quinty Roeffen of the Netherlands proved to be less challenging for Deepika. She dominated the match, winning 6-2. Deepika's consistent shooting and her opponent's occasional errors contributed to her success.Deepika's next hurdle will be Michelle Kroppen of Germany in the pre-quarterfinals on Saturday. The German archer is a formidable opponent, but Deepika's recent form suggests that she is well-prepared for the challenge.Deepika's journey to the pre-quarterfinals has been a testament to her resilience and determination. Despite a disappointing performance in the team event, she has bounced back with two impressive victories. Her ability to perform under pressure and her unwavering focus have been key to her success.As Deepika continues her quest for an Olympic medal, she will be hoping to maintain her momentum and overcome the challenges that lie ahead. Her performance in the pre-quarterfinals will be crucial in determining her chances of reaching the podium.

India's archery contingent is brimming with confidence ahead of the Paris Olympics, with ace archer Deepika Kumari expressing optimism about their chances. The team's strength lies in its clear communication and unwavering support for each other, especially in challenging situations.Deepika, a veteran of three Olympic Games, emphasized the importance of effective communication. "The strength of any team lies in its communication and combination. It's essential to support each other in various situations. We talk a lot and discuss how to handle different scenarios. Clear communication, especially in tough situations, is a huge strength for us," she said.Ankita Bhakat, who will be fulfilling her lifelong dream of competing in the Olympics, echoed Deepika's sentiments. "Since I started archery, I have always dreamt of playing in the Olympics. Now, that dream is coming true. In past World Cups, we rarely played podium matches, but this time it's different. We learned from our early setbacks and improved significantly. Our performance has been consistently better in each competition, and I believe we will perform well at the Olympics," Bhakat stated.Bhajan Kaur, another member of the women's team, highlighted the importance of self-belief and giving their best effort. "My performance at the second World Cup was much better than the first one, so I started feeling victorious about my progress since the first World Cup. Whenever we go for a tournament, we focus on giving our best, no matter the magnitude of the tournament. Our aim is to leave no stones unturned for the Olympics as well and we are confident that we will return from Paris with a medal," Kaur said.Bhakat also acknowledged the invaluable experience of having Deepika Kumari in the team. "It's a great advantage that Deepika is going to the Olympics for the fourth time. She understands the challenges we might face in Paris," she explained.Bhajan added, "Deepika's experience, along with Ankita's, is our biggest strength. They help us understand and rectify any issues in our game. Our ability to communicate and support each other is crucial."Deepika, one of India's most decorated archers, has been a beacon of excellence in the sport. The former World No.1 archer has won medals in World Cups, Asian Championships, the Commonwealth Games, the World Championships, and the Asian Games.

Deepika Kumari, India's ace archer, is embarking on her fourth Olympic journey, balancing the demands of motherhood and her unwavering pursuit of an elusive Olympic medal. After giving birth to her daughter Vedika in December 2022, Deepika faced immense physical challenges, including muscle stiffness and the inability to lift her 19-kg bow.Undeterred, she embarked on a rigorous rehabilitation program, gradually regaining her strength and agility. With the support of her husband and fellow archer Atanu Das, Deepika returned to competition, dominating the National Games and earning a spot under the guidance of legendary Korean coach Kim Hyung-Tak.Despite her impressive feats, Deepika remains focused on the present, treating the Olympics as any other competition. She acknowledges the pressure surrounding the event in India but emphasizes the importance of maintaining a clear mind.In Paris, Deepika will face a formidable challenge in 21-year-old South Korean Lim Si-hyeon, who has defeated her twice this year. However, Deepika remains unfazed, confident in her preparation and the support of her team.Paris holds special memories for Deepika, where she won a hattrick of gold medals in the 2021 World Cup. However, she is determined to approach the Olympics with a fresh perspective, focusing on securing a favorable draw in the qualification round.In the mixed team event, Deepika is likely to partner with Dhiraj Bommadevara, who has been in exceptional form, winning 10 international medals in the past year. Their combination could prove to be India's best chance for a medal in the recurve mixed team event.Deepika's journey to Paris has been marked by resilience and determination. She has overcome physical challenges, embraced motherhood, and remained focused on her Olympic dream. As she prepares to step onto the world's biggest sporting stage, Deepika carries the hopes of a nation and the unwavering support of her family.

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.