Paris Olympics: Deepika Kumari Loses in Archery Quarterfinal; India's Archery Hopes End

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Deepika Kumari's quest for an Olympic medal came to an end in a gripping quarterfinal match against South Korea's Nam Su-Hyeon at the Paris Olympics 2024 on August 3 -- Saturday.

Kumari started strong, winning the first set 28-26, but faced a setback in the second set with a loose shot, allowing Nam to equalize 25-28. The third set saw Kumari reclaiming her lead with a crucial 10, ending 29-28.

However, Nam's consistent performance, shooting sequences of 10, 9, 10 in the final sets, secured her victory with a final score of 28-26, 25-28, 29-28, 27-29, 27-29 (4-6).

This defeat marks yet another Olympic disappointment for Indian archery, as Kumari's loss concludes the country's campaign without a medal in the sport. The hopes of Indian archery were further dashed earlier in the day when Bhajan Kaur was eliminated in the pre-quarterfinals by Indonesia's Diananda Choirunisa.

Kaur fought valiantly, taking the match to a tiebreaker, but ultimately fell short with a shoot-off score of 8-9 after a 5-5 tie in regular sets.

Despite these setbacks, India's Olympic journey is far from over. All eyes now turn to boxer Nishant Dev, who is set to face Marco Verde in the quarterfinal. A win in this bout would secure a medal for India, shifting the nation's focus and hopes to the boxing ring.

Deepika Kumari, a veteran in Indian archery, has participated in four Olympics, aiming for a historic medal. Despite her early strong performance and close matches, she couldn't maintain the momentum against Nam Su-Hyeon. Nam, a rising star in South Korean archery, demonstrated her prowess, adding to her earlier success with the South Korean women's team's 10th consecutive Olympic gold.

Kumari's journey in Paris saw a series of intense matches. In her pre-quarterfinal, she narrowly defeated Michelle Kroppen of Germany with a score of 27-24, 27-27, 26-25, 27-29, 27-27 (6-4), showcasing her resilience and precision. However, her campaign ended in the quarterfinals, highlighting the challenging nature of Olympic competition.