Compound archers sweep team events

Continuing their domination, Indian archers took their gold tally to 3 with scope for two more

- SHANTANU SRIVASTAVA

India's compound archers carried their mixed team form into the men's and women's team events, winning twin gold medals to mark another successful day at the Fuyang Yinhu Sports Centre in the Asian Games here on Thursday.

The women's team - they are the world champions - stamped their class in a testing final to edge out Chinese Taipei 230-229. The men's trio of Pravin Deotale, Abhishek Verma and Prathamesh Jawkar had it relatively easy against South Korea, winning 235230 in the final.

The women's team - Aditi Swami, Jyothi Surekha and Parneet Kaur-fell behind in the final by two points in the first series, logging only a solitary 10 in six attempts. Four 9s and a rare 8 meant they closed the opening sequence with 54 shots. Windy conditions meant India could not register a single perfect series while their opponents could shoot 60/60 only once.

"We are very happy because this is the first time we have won a gold medal in the Asian Games in the compound women's category," Surekha, the seniormost member, said. "There was wind which made the final challenging. We had to calm ourselves and focus on our shooting. We train to be our best even in worst conditions, irrespective of what the opponents shoot."