Jharkhand's Ankita Bhakat and Komalika Bari grabbed two top spots in senior women's recurve division on the opening day of the 2nd 2022 National Ranking Archery Tournament at NIT ground in Adityapur, Seraikela-Kharsawan on Sunday.
Ankita and Komalika, both cadets of Tata Archery Academy in Jamshedpur, continued with their form with some stellar shooting over 70 m distance. The former scored 659 (330+320) to ace the ranking round while the bespectacled Komalika garnered 357 ( (324+334) to finish second. Olympian Deepika Kumari, who represented Petroleum Sports Promotion Board (PSCB) managed third place with a score of 655 (324+331).
Jharkhand's Simpy Kumari, Anita Kumari, Vicky Kumar Dubey and Rohit Kumar Sharma, Pramila Bhumij, Reena Kumari, Mrinal Chouhan, Krishna Swansi, Pawan Khalko, Babita Kumari and Pranjal have all slipped into the top 32.
In the men's recurve round, Jharkhand veteran and Olympian Jayanta Talukdar finished fourth with a score of 668 (337+331). Olympian Atanu Das, a graduate of Tata archery cradle who donned PSPB jersey topped the list with a score of 678 (338+340), ahead of his Maharashtra counterparts Parth Sushant Salunkhe and Yashdeep Bhoge who scored 673 (331+342) and 670 (333+337), respectively.
In the men's compound division, Rajat Chouhan of All India Police Sports Control Board (AIPSCB) topped the list with a score of 712 (356+356). He edged out Rishabh Yadav of Haryana and Prathamesh Samadhan Jawkar of Maharashtra who scored 710 (357+353) and 708 (352+356) to finish second and third, respectively.
Competition in women's compound division saw Rajasthan's Priya Gujjar topping the list with a score of 705 (351+354) with Muskan Kirar of Madhya Pradesh 703 (349+353) and Rajasthan's Swati Dudhwal 701 (349+352) finishing second and third respectively. also secured top 32 slots.
Eliminator and medal round matches are scheduled on Monday
The tournament was inaugurated by Union tribal affairs minister and president of Archery Association of India (AAI) Arjun Munda in the presence of Jharkhand Archery Association (JAA) secretary Dronacharya awardee Purnima Mahto and AAI joint secretary Sumanta Mohanty.
Besides hosts Jharkhand, archers from Manipur, Jammu & Kashmir, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharasshtra, Rajasthan, Kerala, Telangana, Uttarakhand, Chandigarh, Mizoram, Chattisgarh, Haryana and Bengal are participating in the event.
The tournament is being organised by JAA under the auspices of AAI.
