India at Rio day-2 | Dipa Karmakar reaches final; Indian archery team crash out

08/08/2016

India had a second tough day at Rio with the Indian women’s archery team crashing out in the quarter-final match on Sunday. In shooting as well, Heena Sidhu failed to qualify for the final. However, the Indian women's hockey team and Dipa Karmakar, finally, provided reasons to cheer for the fans.

Women's archery team event

India, ranked no.3 in the World, had finished seventh in the ranking round on Friday and faced Colombia, who finished 10th, for a place in the quarters. Although star archer Deepika Kumari was not on song, India took the first set 52-51 to take a two-point lead in the match with the Colombian archers shooting wayward in the second rotation.

However, the Colombians bounced back in the second set and cashed in on the poor shooting by Deepika Kumari and co. to take the set 50-49. Although Deepika started the third set with a 10, Laxmirani Majhi’s seven pulled India back. However, a six from Colombia compensated for India’s deficiencies as both teams finished 52-52 to share the points.

In the fourth and final set of the match, a three-pointer from a Colombian archer destroyed their chances of winning the match as India entered the quarters with 5-3 victory.

In the quarters, they took on Russia, who finished second in the ranking round. India started poorly in the first set and surrendered it to the Russians 48-55 after hitting a couple of sevens and a six in the last rotation.

However, they bounced back and made it 2-2 in the match by winning the second set. Bombayla Devi and Laxmirani Majhi hit 10s in the last rotation, while Deepika Kumari hit a nine to take India to a 53-52 victory. With the momentum on their side, India continued their 10-hitting run in the second rotation of sets and took a 4-2 lead by winning the third set 53-50.

But, the Russians refused to give up and scored 55 in the fourth set to put a challenge in front of India. India needed 30 out of 30 to tie the set, and although they scored two 10s, Deepika Kumari’s 9 took the match into a shoot-off.

In the shoot-off, India failed to find their rhythm and hit 7, 8 and 8 to allow Russia a place in the last four.

Women's 10m air pistol event

In women’s shooting, India’s poor run continued as Heena Sidhu also failed to enter the finals in the 10m air pistol event. She finished with a score of 380 (94, 95, 96, 95) at 14th with 13 bullseyes. Although she was reasonably good in hitting bullseyes, she failed to find the consistency and hit too many 9s in all the rounds.

Heena will have one more shot at a medal at Rio, in the women’s 25m pistol event on Wednesday (August 9th).

Women’s hockey

The Indian women’s hockey team, who qualified for the Olympics after a 36-long wait, drew their first match of the 2016 Rio Olympics against Japan. After trailing 0-2 at half-time, India bounced back through goals from Rani Rampal and Lilima Minz in the third quarter. However, they failed to score a winning goal in the last fifteen even though both teams played some brilliant attacking hockey.

Although India started the match on a positive note with quick forays into the final third, it was the opposition that ended the quarter ahead after defender Emi Nishikori put Japan in the lead from a penalty corner. Japan doubled their lead just before half-time through a deflection from Mie Nakashima. The forward slotted one into the back of the net from a tight angle to beat Indian goalie Savita Punia.

In the second half, Rani Rampal pulled one back for India from a penalty corner just after the break to make the scoreline 1-2. The forward sent a straightforward drag-flick to the right side of the net from the penalty corner to beat the Japan goalie and to bring back India into the match.

Lilima Minz made it 2-2 just before the end of the third quarter from another penalty corner. The original penalty corner went straight at the goalie, and the Japanese custodian saved it to keep India out. But, the ball went straight back to the Indian forwards, and during the melee in the shooting circle, Lilima Minz found some space to power it past the goalie.

The goalkeepers of both sides were the stars in the last quarter as they made save after save to keep the ball out. India had a glorious chance to win the match in the last minute, but the Indian forward shot it straight at the goalie to waste the opportunity.

India will next take on Great Britain in their second match on August 9.

Men’s Trap

After Heena Sidhu’s failure in the 10m air pistol event earlier, India’s disappointing run in shooting continued as Manavjit Singh Sandhu and Kynan Chenai finished 17th and 19th respectively in the first day of qualification of men’s trap event.

Manavjit shot a total of 68 points (23, 23, 22) from his 75 shots, while Kynan scored 67 points (22, 23, 22) on the first day of qualification. Although 50 more shots are remaining for the duo tomorrow, they will have to produce an impossible performance tomorrow to enter the final stage.

Massimo Fabbrizi of Italy is leading the standings with a perfect score of 75.

Artistic Gymnastics

Dipa Karmakar, India’s first-ever female gymnast at the Olympics, gave the nation something to cheer about after she reached the final of apparatus in the artistic Gymnastics. She finished eighth in the qualification round after scoring 14.850 in two vaults.

Dipa scored 11.666 in uneven bars and 12.866 in balance beam, before finishing with a 12.033 in floor exercise.