Tokyo Olympics: Deepika ninth in ranking round; Koreans top-two

TIL Desk Sports/ Star Indian archer Deepika Kumari finished a disappointing ninth in the women’s individual ranking round as the country’s Olympic campaign kickstarted at the Yumenoshima Park in Tokyo on Friday. The world No 1 managed to stay in the top 10 in the qualification round with a total score of 663, while talented 20-year-old Korean prodigy An San (680) topped the qualification round with an Olympic record score of 680.

The performances will determine the seedings for the elimination rounds. The Indian might run into San in the quarterfinal stage. Deepika had lost to her in straight sets during their only exchange in an Olympic Test event at the same venue in 2019. The previous Olympic record score in the individual ranking round was 673 held by Ukraine’s Lina Gerasymenko way back at Atlanta 1996 Olympics.

The world record (692) is held by Kang Chae Wong, the world No.3 who finished third with 675 points for a Korean top-three in the qualification round. Jang Minhee (677) finished second. Deepika fancied her chances at the halfway mark (36 arrows) as she occupied the fourth place with 334 points, one point ahead of Korean heavyweight Kang Chae Wong.