Indian archery has set its sights on ending a 36-year Olympic medal drought at the Tokyo Games, buoyed by its impressive performance in the ranking rounds. With a full six-member contingent competing in all five categories, India has a strong chance of multiple medals.
The men’s and women’s teams, seeded straight to the quarterfinals, need two wins to secure a historic first Olympic medal. They will avoid archery powerhouse South Korea in the early rounds, but could face them in the semifinals.
The women’s team, led by Ankita Bhakat, Bhajan Kaur, and Deepika Kumari, will face the winners of France and the Netherlands in the quarterfinals. France, ranked fifth in the qualifiers, will be the favorites, but India has a slight edge in average arrow score.
Deepika, a former world No. 1, has struggled in the ranking rounds but remains a key player. Her experience and ability to perform under pressure will be crucial.
The men’s team, featuring Games debutant Dhiraj Bommadevara, Tarundeep Rai, and Pravin Jadhav, is considered the most likely to win a medal. They upset South Korea in the Shanghai World Cup and are ranked third in the qualification round.
Dhiraj, in particular, has been in red-hot form and will also be a contender in the individual rounds. He will look to overcome the disappointment of his Asian Games performance, where he botched up his release twice in the quarterfinals.
In the mixed team event, India is seeded fifth and will face Indonesia in the opening round. They could potentially face China and South Korea in the later rounds.
Overall, Indian archery has a strong chance of making history at the Tokyo Games. With a talented team and a favorable draw, they are poised to end their long wait for an Olympic medal.
