Paris, July 30: The Indian men’s archery team, comprising Dhiraj Bommadevara, Pravin Jadhav, and Tarundeep Rai, was eliminated from the Olympics after a 2-6 quarter-final defeat to Turkey’s Mete Gazoz, Berkim Tumer, and Abdullah Yildirmis in Paris on Monday. Following the women’s team’s early exit, this defeat continues India’s wait to surpass the quarter-final stage in Olympic archery.
The match at the picturesque Esplanade des Invalides highlighted a series of missed opportunities for the World No. 2 Indian team, which only managed to win one set against the resilient Turkish trio.
**Set 1**
India’s Tarundeep Rai initiated the match with a score of 9, followed by Pravin Jadhav’s 10. However, Dhiraj Bommadevara’s opening 7 put India at an immediate disadvantage. Turkey’s Mete Gazoz, a seasoned Olympic and world champion, responded with a 10, Yildirmis with a 9, and Tumer with another 10, establishing a 29-26 lead. Despite a valiant effort from Rai (8), Jadhav (9), and Bommadevara (10), India ended the set trailing 53-57.
The Indian team’s hopes of a comeback were further dampened as Tarundeep Rai began with an 8, followed by Jadhav and Bommadevara scoring 8 and 9, respectively. Another 8 from Rai compounded the team’s struggles. Despite a 10 and a 9 from Jadhav and Bommadevara, Turkey secured the set with a 55-52 win, extending their overall lead to 4-0.
India showed signs of resurgence in the third set. Rai started with a 9, Jadhav scored an 8, and Bommadevara hit a 10. The Turkish team maintained their consistency with a cumulative 29. India replied with 10, 9, and 9. A surprising 7 from Tumer allowed India to take the set 55-54, bringing the score to 4-2 and keeping their hopes alive.
In the decisive fourth set, Rai opened with a 9, Jadhav added a 10, and Bommadevara shot a 9, matching Turkey’s scores of 10, 10, and 9 to tie the set at 28. However, a critical 7 from Bommadevara allowed Turkey to regain control. Turkey closed out the match with 10, 9, and 10, taking the set 58-54 and winning the match 6-2.
The Indian team’s performance was marked by inconsistency, with several crucial shots falling short at pivotal moments. Despite their elimination, the team’s effort in the third set showed their potential to compete at the highest level.
The loss underscores the need for continued development and preparation as India looks forward to future competitions. The Turkish team, demonstrating remarkable poise and precision, advances to the semi-finals with their sights set on Olympic glory.
The Indian archery team’s journey at Paris 2024 ends in disappointment, but the experience gained will be invaluable as they prepare for future challenges on the international stage.
