Men’s and women’s compound archery teams reach final

The Indian team, comprising Rajat Chauhan, Aman Saini and Abhishek Verma, defeated Taiwan’s troika of Lin Chewei, Lin Hsinmin and Pan Yuping 230-227. The first set ended 57-57, with both teams scoring three 10s each. The second set saw India register a 57-56 victory as it held a one-point lead at 114-113. Chewei of Taiwan scored an eight in his second shot as his team trailed India.

The third set, which ended 58-55, gave a four-point advantage to India with the total scores at 172-168. While Taiwan scored two 10s, India came up with four 10s. 

Chewei and Hsinmin scored an eight each but Aman came out with two 9s to ensure India gained crucial advantage. Trailing by four points, a desperate Taiwan came out all guns blazing and won the fourth set 59-58 but it couldn’t stop India from winning the match 230-227.

In the fourth set, Taiwan fired five 10s but India didn’t relent and shot four 10s -- the last one coming in the fifth and penultimate shot. It meant that Rajat just had to shoot a 7 to secure victory for India. And Rajat came out with a 9 to give India the win. Out of the eight shots, Jaipur’s Rajat got seven 10s and one nine as he went through a phenomenal run.

Rajat and Abhishek were part of India’s team which won the gold medal in this category at the 2014 Incheon Asian Games. Continuing their winning run, Indian women archers stormed into the final of the compound women’s team event. 

Registering their second win of the day, the Indian team comprising Muskan Kirar Madhumita Kumari and Jyothi Surekha Vennam defeated Taiwan’s Liju Chen Yihsuan Chen and Mingching Lin 225-222 in the semis. Despite being at the receiving end in the first two sets at 55-58 and 55-57, the Indians made a brilliant comeback in the last two sets to win 57-55 58-52.

India will now face South Korea in the final on Tuesday. Earlier, in the quarters, the Indians had pipped Indonesia’s Sri Ranti Yurike Nina Pereira and Dellie Threesyadinda 229-224.