In a display of skill and composure, India’s veteran archer Deepika Kumari has secured her place in the Round of 16 of the women’s individual recurve event at the ongoing Paris Olympics. Kumari joins fellow Indian archer Bhajan Kaur in the pre-quarterfinals, keeping India’s medal hopes alive in archery.

Kumari demonstrated her prowess in the elimination round, securing a comfortable 6-2 victory over Dutch archer Quinty Roeffen. The match was decided in four sets, with Kumari’s precision and consistency proving too much for her opponent.

The Indian archer started strong, scoring two 10s in her first two shots of the opening set. Despite a strong comeback from Roeffen in the second set, Kumari regained control in the third and fourth sets, capitalizing on her opponent’s mistakes to seal the win.

This victory follows Kumari’s nail-biting triumph over Estonian archer Reena Parnat in the previous round. That match went down to a shoot-off, where Kumari’s arrow landed closer to the center, securing her advancement.

Kumari’s journey to this stage has been marked by moments of brilliance and resilience. In the match against Parnat, she found herself on the brink of elimination but showcased her mental strength by striking three perfect 10s in the final set to force a shoot-off.

With both Kumari and Kaur now in the Round of 16, India’s prospects in the women’s individual recurve event look promising. Archery fans will be eagerly anticipating their performances in the upcoming rounds as they aim to bring home an Olympic medal for India.

(Inputs from ANI)