Former world number one Deepika Kumari has joined Bombayla Devi and Atanu Das in the pre-quarters of the individual archery event at the Rio Olympics.
Currently ranked 12th in the world, Deepika showered 10’s from her bow to defeat Kristine Esebua of Georgia in the 1/32 eliminators. The final score read 6-4.
Deepika dominated proceedings right from the start.
Starting with a mediocre eight pointer with her first attempt, she scored 10 and nine points in the next two. Esebua could only manage attempts of 8,9,9 as Deepika took the opening set and the subsequent two set points with some ease.
The Georgian did better in the second set. Both archers scored identical attempts of 10, 10, 9 to split the set points with the overall score reading 3-1 in favour of Deepika.
Deepika displayed outstanding marksmanship in the third set with 10 pointers in all her three attempts to increase her lead. Not to be outdone, Esebua shot 10, 9, 10 in the next set as Deepika could only manage three 9s to hand the set to the Georgian thus forcing the issue into a fifth set. Both archers shot identical 10, 10, 9 in the final set to split points which settled the matter in favour of the Indian.
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