Deepika Kumari placed herself in an advantageous position against Korea’s Nam
Suhyeon by winning two of the first three sets, but shot a horrible 7 with the second arrow of the fourth set to throw away a great opportunity as India’s archery campaign folded at the Paris Olympics on Saturday.
Deepika had begun the day well with a 6-4 win over Germany’s Michelle Kroppen, but lost by the same margin to Nam, who had won the women’s team gold on Friday. Teenager Bhajan Kaur was eliminated earlier in the day after losing her pre-quarter-final match to Indonesia’s Diananda Choirunisa in a shoot-off.
Competing in her fourth Olympics, Deepika yet again left the big stage empty-handed. However, there was no hype around her this time, following disappointments
in the London, Rio and Tokyo Games.
The fourth-place finish by Ankita Bhakat and Dhiraj Bommadevara in the mixed team event was India’s best performance in archery in Paris.
Leading 4-2, Deepika aced a 10 to start the fourth set but fell into the red zone with a 7 after the Korean shot a 10 and a nine. Nam did not make any mistake on her final shot, hitting a 10 to force a decider.
In the fifth set, the Korean shot 10, 9, 10 while Deepika hit three 9s to lose the match. Even in the second set, which she lost, Deepika had fluffed the second shot, managing
a poor 6.
“It is disappointing. I don’t know how and why I keep losing at the Olympic Games. Maybe it’s the weight of my own expectations,” Deepika said after her defeat, admitting it was her best chance to do well. “Those were two bad shots and I feel like I gifted her the match.”
The 18-year-old Bhajan too fluffed under pressure. “I was lacking in something, that’s why I lost,” she said.
The Koreans continued their dominance with Lim Sihyeon and Nam Suhyeon taking gold and silver, respectively, in the event.