Paris Olympics: Ankita Bhakat Finishes 11th in Women's Archery Ranking Round, Deepika Kumari Struggles to 23rd Spot, India Take 4th Place in Team Ranking

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The Women's Archery Ranking Round at the Paris Olympics 2024 took place a day before the Opening Ceremony along the picturesque Seine River. This critical round, determining seedings for the individual, women's team, and mixed team medal rounds starting on July 28, saw mixed results for the Indian archery contingent.

India's senior archer Deepika Kumari delivered a performance far below her personal best of 686, finishing 23rd with 658 points. This result was disappointing, considering her previous records and expectations.

In contrast, Ankita Bhakat seized the opportunity, emerging as the top Indian archer. She ranked 11th with 666 points, marking her season-best performance. Finish as the top archer among Indians also meant she would be India's sole women's representation in the mixed team event.

Bhajan Kaur, another Indian archer, finished 22nd with 659 points, showcasing a strong comeback after a slow start.

India's Women's Team, comprising Deepika Kumari, Ankita Bhakat, and Bhajan Kaur, secured a commendable 4th place with an aggregate score of 1983 out of a possible 2160. This positioning is crucial as it sets the stage for their matchups in the knockout rounds. Despite Deepika's subpar performance, the team's overall effort ensured a competitive standing.

World and Olympic Records by South Koreans

Notably, the South Korean archers set a high bar, with the trio of Lim Sihyeon, Nam Suh-yeon, and Jeon Hun-young establishing a new Olympic record with a score of 2046, surpassing their compatriots' previous record of 2032 from the Tokyo Olympics.

Lim Si-hyeon, the world number two, also broke the world and Olympic records with an astounding score of 694 out of 720, eclipsing Kang Chae-young's five-year-old world record of 692 and An San's Olympic record of 680.

For India, Ankita Bhakat's strong finish in the 11th position means she will represent India in the mixed team event, partnered with a male compatriot to be determined later in the men's ranking round. This mixed team event will offer another chance for India to vie for a medal.

The ranking round results are crucial as they determine the seedings for the knockout stages. Archers are ranked from 1 to 64 based on their scores, with the top 32 having a relatively easier path in the knockout stages. The number one seed faces the 64th seed, the number two seed faces the 63rd, and so on. This seeding format ensures a structured and competitive path to the finals.

The Men's Archery Ranking Round will take place later today -- July 25 -- at 5:45 PM IST