June 16th 2024.
In a thrilling display of skill and determination, Indian archer Ankita Bhakat secured a spot in the quarterfinals of the Final Olympic Qualifier in Antalya on Sunday. Not only did she outplay her opponent, Gabrielle Monica Bidaure of Philippines, with a 6-0 win, but her impressive performance also earned her an individual quota in the women's archery event at the upcoming Paris Games.
Ankita, who was seeded ninth, breezed through the pre-quarterfinals with ease, defeating her 40th seeded rival. With this victory, India has now secured individual quotas in both the men's and women's sections, with Dhiraj Bommadevara having already secured the men's quota from the Asian qualifying leg.
In the earlier rounds, Ankita showcased her prowess by defeating Shelley Hilton and Mikaella Moshe, both from Israel, with scores of 6-4 and 7-3, respectively. She will now face top-seeded Mobina Fallah of Iran in the quarterfinals, where she will aim to continue her winning streak.
Meanwhile, third-seeded Bhajan also secured a spot in the round of 32 after receiving a bye. She then went on to defeat Urantungalag Bishindee of Mongolia with a score of 6-2. Bhajan will now face Urska Cavic of Slovenia in her pre-quarterfinal match, with hopes of making it to the podium.
It is worth noting that the top eight nations are allotted individual quotas, with each country receiving one quota. Unfortunately, premier Indian archer Deepika Kumai, who qualified as the second seed, suffered an unexpected defeat in the opening round to Yaylagul Ramazanova of Azerbaijan. Despite initially leading with a score of 4-0, Deepika's performance faltered in the next two sets, ultimately resulting in a 4-6 loss.
However, there is still hope for the Indian teams to secure quotas for the Paris Games. Although the men's and women's teams were unable to secure quotas at the Final Olympic Qualifier, they still have a chance to earn them through the World Rankings. The top two nations from among those who have not yet secured team quotas will qualify on June 24, after the third stage of the World Cup. Currently, the Indian men's team is ranked second, while the women's team is at the top of the rankings race. It remains to be seen if they can maintain their positions and secure a spot at the Paris Olympics.
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