Silver Medals for Indian Men’s & Women’s Team in Compound Archery

In the shoot-off the men’s team had their scores level. But the Koreans had more arrows in the centre circle.

The Indian Men’s Compound Archery team and the Indian Women’s Compound Archery team after the medal ceremony

(Photo: PTI)

Indian men’s and women’s compound archery team won silver after both teams lost to South Korea in the final at the 18th Asian Games on Tuesday.

Both the finals were fiercely contested. While the women faltered in the final set, the men could easily blame their luck after the final went into a shoot-off with scores in the fourth set tied at 229-229.

Defending champions India and Korea shot 29 each in the shoot-off but the latter scraped via a measured win, which implies shots closest to the bull's eye (inner 10).

Two archery medals were still more than welcome for India after the disappointment in recurve category.

In the shoot-off too, the scores were level. But the Koreans had more arrows in the centre circle, which won them the gold medal

(For The Quint’s complete coverage of 2018 Asian Games, click here.)

India were off to a perfect start as they managed score six 10s to end with a perfect 60 while the Koreans managed 56 with one 10 point. Like their female counterparts,

In the second set, South Korea’s men’s team made a comeback. They won the second set 58-54, which included two 10s and two bulls eye while India managed only one 10.

After 12 arrows, both India and South Korea were tied at 114-114.

The third set went in India's favour 58-56, giving them a much need two point advantage going into the final set. There was a gold at stake and senior archer Verma constantly fired up his teammates.

Verma delivered when it mattered most, shooting couple of 10 pointers in the final set. But when the judges ruled two 9s to 10s, it was 229-229, pushing the final into a dramatic shoot-off.

India shot a 9, 10 and 10 and Korea shot a 10-9-10. The score was tied but Korea prevailed via a measured win after it had its 10s more closer to the bull's eye than India. That left defending champions in utter disbelief.

India were shooting second in the final.

Meanwhile, the Indian team comprising Muskan Kirar, Madhumita Kumari and Jyothi Surekha Vennam started the final on a great note. They won the first set 59-57.

But the Koreans made a comeback in the second quarter, taking it 58-56.

At the end of 12 arrows, India and Korea were tied at 115-115.

There was no change after the third quarter. After 18 arrows, both the Indian and South Korean teams were on 173 points, as they drew the third set 58-58.

It was the last six arrow, which turned the game in the favour of the Koreans.

South Korea’s six arrows last quarter fetched them 58 points (10, 10, 9, 9, 10, 10). Meanwhile, Indians crumbled in the dying minutes of the high pressure final. Their six arrows in the last quarter got them their lowest of 55 points (9, 9, 10, 8, 9, 10).

The Koreans were taking the aim first, putting the Indians under constant pressure. The pressure got to the Indians in the end.