The top-ranked Indian women’s recurve team of Deepika Kumari, Ankita Bhakat and Komalika Bari will have to deal with the burden of expectations in its battle with second-ranked Mexico (Aida Roman, Alejandra Valencia and Ana Vazquez) in the final of the Guatemala City 2021 Hyundai Archery World Cup Stage 1 in Guatemala City on Sunday.
Since two of its recurve archers stood on the podium in the Olympic Games in London in 2012, Mexico has been regarded as one of the strongest women’s teams. With the silver medallist from the 2012 Games Aida Roman leading the way, Tokyo 2020 qualifier Alejandra Valencia (a former world No. 3) and World Youth runner-up Ana Vasquez, Mexico can be a tough nut to crack.
It will also be wonderful for Indian archery if the wife-husband duo of Deepika Kumari and Atanu Das optimise their chance to return with medals from the women’s and men’s events.
Deepika Kumari is World No. 9 now as opposed to her 26-year-old rival Alejandra Valencia’s No. 25. But both have qualified for the Tokyo Olympic Games as the sole women recurve archers from their nations so far. It will be an interesting contest considering that the Mexican beat Deepika in the most recent match to end up with a 1-2 win-loss record against the Indian.
On the way to the semifinals, both were challenged. Deepika Kumari edged out Mexico’s 2012 Olympic silver-medalist Aida Roman via a single-arrow shoot-off in the pre-quarterfinals. Alejandra Valencia nosed ahead of France’s Lisa Babelin by a similar verdict. However, the manner in which Deepika Kumari won her quarterfinal contest makes her the favourite
In the men’s semifinal, World No. 40 Atanu Das will match wits with 20-year-old Angel Alvarado, ranked 54 slots below him, and will see this as a great opportunity to secure himself a berth in the World Cup final. His best finish in a World Cup has been a fourth-place in Antalya, Turkey, in 2016 and he has shown resilience in Guatemala City to make it to the semifinals.
The Mixed team of Ankita Bhakat and Atanu Das, paired after either finished second in the qualification round on Tuesday, will be up against the United States of America team of Casey Kaufhold and the redoubtable Brady Ellison. The Indians will be hoping that their combined strength will overcome the amazing accuracy that Ellison brings to the table.
Sunday’s schedule (all times IST):
Recurve Women’s team final: India (Deepika Kumari, Ankita Bhakat and Komalika Bari) vs Mexico (Aida Roman, Alejandra Valencia and Ana Vazquez) 9.32 to 9.59 p.m.
Recurve Mixed Team Bronze medal play-off: India (Ankita Bhakat and Atanu Das) vs USA (Casey Kaufhold and Brady Ellison), 10.40 to 10.59 p.m.
Recurve Women Semifinals: Deepika Kumari vs Alejandra Valencia (Mexico), 1.32 to 1.44 a.m. (Monday); Bronze medal play-off: 2.01 to 2.13 a,m.; Final: 2.14 to 2.26 a.m.
Recurve Men Semifinals: Atanu Das vs Angel Alvarado (Mexico), 2.38 to 2.50 a.m.; Bronze medal play-off: 3.07 to 3.19 a.m.; Final: 3.20 to 3.32 a.m.
Image: Deepika Kumari (Photo courtesy: World Archery Website)
