Tag: PreQuarterfinals

Indian archer Rakesh Kumar made a remarkable start to his Paralympic campaign, showcasing his exceptional accuracy and composure in the compound men’s category. Despite challenging weather conditions, Kumar emerged victorious against Senegal’s Aliou Drame with a score of 136-131, securing his place in the pre-quarterfinals.

The heavy downpour posed a significant challenge for the archers, making it difficult to aim precisely. However, Kumar, an experienced archer and Asian Para Games silver medalist, remained unfazed. He began the match with a perfect 10 in the first end, setting the tone for his dominant performance.

Drame managed to narrow the gap slightly in the second end, but Kumar quickly regained control. He extended his lead to five points in the third end, delivering two flawless 10s that further solidified his dominance. As the contest progressed, Kumar continued to demonstrate his superior form, establishing a six-point lead by winning the fourth end.

Despite Drame’s efforts to mount a comeback, particularly with his strong performance in the final end where he dropped just one point, Kumar’s substantial lead ensured that his place in the last-16 was never in doubt. The Indian archer’s steady hand and unyielding focus proved too much for his opponent, securing a well-deserved victory.

Kumar’s performance has garnered widespread praise on social media, with netizens applauding his determination and ability to thrive in such testing conditions. One user even compared Rakesh’s excellent archery skills to viral Turkish shooter Yusuf Dikec, who went viral on social media platforms during the Olympics.

The fifth-seeded Rakesh Kumar will now face Indonesia’s Ken Swagumilang, the 12th seed, in the pre-quarterfinals. With momentum firmly on his side, Kumar will be aiming to continue his winning streak and secure a spot in the quarterfinals.

Seasoned Indian archer Rakesh Kumar made a strong start to his Paralympic campaign, securing a 136-131 victory over Senegal’s Aliou Drame in the compound men’s open category pre-quarterfinals on Friday. The fifth-seeded Rakesh will now face Indonesia’s Ken Swagumilang (12th seed) for a place in the quarterfinals.

Rakesh, who won a silver medal at the Asian Para Games but was eliminated in the quarterfinals of the Tokyo Paralympics, began the match with a perfect 10 in the first end, giving him a three-point lead. Aliou took the second end by a single point, but Rakesh maintained his lead and extended it by five points in the third end with two more 10s.

The Indian archer continued his dominance, winning the fourth end to establish a six-point lead. Aliou managed to win the final end by three arrows, dropping just one point, but Rakesh’s substantial lead ensured his progression to the last 16.

Another Indian archer, Shyam Sunder Swami, who was seeded 15th in the qualification round, will begin his campaign later in the day against Comsan Singpirom of Thailand.

Rakesh’s victory marks a promising start for India’s archery contingent at the Paralympics. The experienced archer will be aiming to improve on his performance in Tokyo and secure a medal for his country.