Deepika Kumari’s pursuit of Olympic glory came to a disappointing end as she suffered a 4-6 defeat to South Korea’s Suhyeon Nam in the women’s individual archery quarterfinals at the Paris Olympics on Saturday. This loss marks the conclusion of India’s archery campaign in the competition, as Kumari was unable to replicate her earlier success against Nam.
A Competitive Match
Kumari had previously defeated Germany’s Michelle Kroppen 6-4 in the elimination round to reach the quarterfinals. In a highly competitive match against Nam, the two archers were tied at 4-4 after four sets. However, Nam’s consistency shone through in the decisive fifth set, allowing her to secure the victory and advance to the semifinals.
The match began with Kumari taking an early lead, scoring 28-26 in the first set. However, Nam quickly leveled the score by winning the second set 28-25. Kumari regained the advantage with a strong performance in the third set, winning 29-28, but faltered in the fourth set, which Nam won 29-27. In the final set, Kumari scored 9, 9, and 9, while Nam delivered impressive scores of 10, 9, and 10, sealing the match in favor of the Korean archer.
Previous Encounters and Expectations
Interestingly, Kumari had previously defeated Nam in straight sets during the semifinal at the Shanghai World Cup in April, where she went on to win a silver medal. Expectations were high for the Indian archer, but she struggled to find her rhythm in this crucial match.
Kumari’s performance has faced criticism, particularly regarding her inconsistency in the team event. Scores of six and seven in critical sets ultimately hindered her chances for victory against Nam.
With Kumari’s exit, India’s hopes for a medal in archery at the Paris Olympics have been dashed. The Indian contingent had high hopes for Kumari, who has been a stalwart in the sport. This defeat highlights the challenges faced by athletes under pressure during high-stakes competitions.
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