Premium

Shanghai Archery World Cup: Deepika Kumari reaches semifinal; Parth Sushant Salunkhe in last four too after two massive upsets

Deepika reached the semifinals where she is the only non-Korean archer. Parth, who managed to qualify only as the 60th seed earlier this week, pulled off two massive wins on his way to the recurve men's final four.

Deepika Kumari in action in Shanghai. Credit: World Archery

It was a day to remember for Indian archers in Shanghai at the Archery World Cup Stage 2 as Deepika Kumari and Parth Sushant Salunkhe strung together impressive results to reach the semifinals of the recurve women and men’s events, respectively. The compound mixed team of Madhura Dhamangaonkar and Abhishek Verma also reached the semifinals, where they lost against Great Britain, and now will compete for the bronze medal on Saturday.

Parth, who managed to qualify only as the 60th seed earlier this week, pulled off two massive wins on his way to the recurve men’s final four. He stunned Tokyo Olympics gold medallist and Paris Games bronze winner Mete Gazoz 6-5 in the shoot-off in the first round. He then overcame Aoshima Tetsuya of Japan with an identical margin in the round of 32 before defeating Ryan Tyack of Australia 6-2. In the quarterfinal, Parth registered the second major upset of his campaign as he overcame Kim Je Deok of South Korea 6-2. In the semifinals, he will take on South Korean veteran and Paris Olympics gold medallist Kim Woojin in the semifinals on Sunday.

For Deepika, it marks a return to form internationally as she beat fifth seed Victoria Sebastian of France and then upset Olympic silver medallist (team) and home favourite Li Jiaman of China. The quarterfinals saw Deepika shoot impressive sets of 28, 28, 26 and 29 as she beat Li 6-2. The former world No 1 began with a 6-4 win over Lucia Ibanez Romero of Spain and then defeated Diana Tursunbek of Kazakhstan 6-0 before prevailing over Victoria Sebastian of France 6-4 In the quarterfinal, Deepika beat Li Jiaman of China 6-2 to set up a semifinal clash against Lim Sihyeon of South Korea. Indeed, Deepika is the only non-Korean archer in the semifinals, with the other three spots going to the recurve powerhouses.

Story continues below this ad

“I don’t expect anything because after the Olympics I’m working with so many things with my technique and mindset,” the 30-year-old told World Archery. “It’s like totally new for me. It’s really difficult for me right now, so I’m trying to achieve the best of myself. I think it’s improving, maybe that’s why it went so well today. I just reset myself for four arrows throughout the afternoon, but before, it would have been countless. It’s improving and I’m happy with myself.”

In the compound mixed team event – a discipline which will make its debut at the Los Angeles Olympics in three years – Madhura Dhamangaonkar and Abhishek Verma lost 156-158 to Ella Gibson and Ajay Scott of Great Britain. They will face Malaysia — who lost to Turkiye 156-157 — in quest for bronze

On Saturday, besides the compound mixed team bronze medal match, India will also feature in the two gold medal matches.

The Indian compound women’s team of Madhura, Jyothi Surekha Vennam and Chikitha Taniparthi faces Mexico in the final and the compound men’s team of Abhishek Verma, Rishabh Yadav and Ojas Pravin Deotale is also up against the Mexican team.

Story continues below this ad