Jakarta: Former World No.1 Deepika Kumari yet again flopped on the big stage as it turned out to be a depressing day for India’s recurve archers, whose challenge ended at the Asian Games here Thursday.
Of all four archers in action, only Atanu Das managed to reach the quarterfinals while the other three fell by the wayside at the preliminary stages.
After getting a bye, Deepika got past North Korea’s Hyang Ji Ri (6-2) but fluffed her second last shot in the third set to lose 3-7 to Chinese Taipei’s Chien Ying Lei.
India’s only hope, after Deepika came a cropper, was Das, but he too lost his quarterfinal 3-7 to Indonesia’s Riau Ega Agata Salsa Billa. In the final set, the 26-year-old needed to hit a 10 in the final shot but found an eight to total 28.
Earlier Das had defeated both Yong Won Pak from Korea and Denis Gankin of Kazakhstan with identical 7-3 victories
Deepika had come into the Asian Games after winning a World Cup (Stage Event) gold. “I am very disappointed with the result. My start was good and I tried hard but the second last shot in the third set was pretty bad. After that, I just could not get the 10s consistently,” Deepika said, though she denied that having felt any pressure.
Asked if she has a mental block coming to such marquee events, Deepika replied in the negative. “I also expect myself to do well. I do not feel pressure at big events. We don’t think like and I can’t explain why I lost,” she stated lamely.
Promila Daimary was also eliminated after losing 2-6 to Mongolia’s Urantungalag Bishindee in the second round. The second Indian in men’s individual recurve, Vishwas got the better of Bataa Purevsuren of Mongolia 6-2 in first match but crashed out after losing his pre-quarterfinal 1-7 to Kazakhstan’s Ilfat Abdullin.
India’s recurve coach Sawaiyan Manjhi said they also struggle to understand why Deepika does not carry her pre-tournament good form into big competitions.
“It’s a shock result for us. We expected Deepika and Atanu do well. We are really finding it hard to digest that Deepika does not do well at multi-sport events. She is three-time World Cup gold winner. Maybe we have to go back and discuss it with psychologists to find a solution,” Manjhi said.
Clamour for recognition
Jakarta: Forced to use borrowed or second-hand equipment at the Asian Games, recurve archer Vishwas said that unless the authorities stop treating them as second-grade athletes, it will be difficult to deliver at the big stage. “They (sports officials) have no expectations from us and perhaps that’s why they do not include us in TOPS. I am using either borrowed equipment or the one I bought from other archers. Will it not affect you?”, Vishwas, a 2006 Asian Games bronze medallist, said after he bowed out of the men’s individual recurve event. “If people get support, they get it from all. The SAI, OGQ, GoSport. Everyone will support top players. We feel like we are second grades.”