Ankita Bhakat, a 26-year-old archer, got India’s campaign off to a flying start at the Paris Olympics 2024! She played a key role in helping the women’s archery team secure a direct spot in the quarterfinals.
Leading the Charge
Ankita Bhakat emerged as the top performer among the three Indian archers in the ranking round. She impressed everyone with a score of 666 points, which landed her in 11th place. This was a significant improvement compared to her teammates, Bhajan Kaur (22nd with 659 points) and Deepika Kumari (23rd with 658 points), even the former World No. 1!
Teamwork Makes the Dream Work
India’s strong showing in the ranking round earned them a fourth-place finish with a total of 1983 points. This impressive score placed them behind the archery powerhouses South Korea (2046), China (1996), and Mexico (1986). With this result, India secured a direct path to the quarterfinals, avoiding the need to compete in earlier rounds.
A Season’s Best Performance
Ankita Bhakat’s performance was particularly noteworthy because it was her best of the season. She displayed exceptional focus and skill, hitting the target consistently throughout the competition. Her impressive performance grabbed the headlines and raised hopes for India’s archery success in Paris.
Building on Past Achievements
Bhakat’s journey to this success began much earlier. She started archery training at the young age of 10 at the Calcutta Archery Club. She then honed her skills further at the Archery Academy in Jamshedpur. Her dedication and hard work have paid off, leading her to this impressive performance on the Olympic stage.
Looking Ahead: Challenging Matches
India’s next challenge will be the quarterfinals, where they will face the winner of the match between France and Netherlands. If they manage to win this round, they might face a formidable opponent in the semifinals – the mighty South Korean team! South Korea has a dominant history in women’s archery at the Olympics, having won a record-breaking nine consecutive medals.
Individual Competition
While Bhakat’s performance in the team event was a highlight, the individual competition also saw impressive displays. South Korea’s Lim Sihyeon stole the show by setting a new world record score of 694, putting her firmly in the lead. Her teammate, Suhyeon Nam, also performed exceptionally well, finishing second with a score of 688 points.
Ankita Bhakat’s impressive performance has sparked excitement and hope for India’s archery team at the Paris Olympics. Can they continue their winning streak and challenge the archery powerhouses? Only time will tell!
| Archer | Position | Final Round Scores | Notable Highlights |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ankita Bhakat | 11th | Five 9s, one X | Consistency throughout the competition |
| Bhajan Kaur | 22nd | – | Finished just one point behind Ankita Bhakat |
| Deepika Kumari | 23rd | Four 10s, one 9, one 8 | Delivered a solid performance in the final round |
India’s Women Archers -Paris Olympics 2024-All Women In Top 32, India Directly In Quarters
Also read- “India’s Archery Events at Paris 2024 Olympics : Complete Schedule and IST Timings”