It was raining medals for India in Archery on Saturday, October 7 as after a double podium finish in the women’s individual compound event, it was another double podium finish in the men’s individual event but this time it was Gold and Silver. Ojas Pravin Deotale, who won a Gold in the mixed team and men’s team events won his third Gold beating his compatriot Abhishek Verma 149-147 in the final as he lost a 10-pointer only once in five Ends across 15 attempts. This was the 99th medal for India and the 24th Gold as archers have added nine medals to the tally in Hangzhou Asian Games.
It was going cut-to-cut for Ojas and Verma after the first two Ends with 60-60 points. However, a couple of errors from Abhishek in the third End helped Ojas take the lead. Ojas missed the mark only once in the fourth End but completed another 30-pointer in the final round to finish with his third Gold.
The two Indians hugged as even though Abhishek lost, both Gold and Silver came to India.
Earlier, the Indians won gold in the compound mixed team, the compound men’s and women’s teams, a bronze in the women’s recurve team and a silver in the men’s recurve team before double podium finishes in each of men’s and women’s individual events.
The day started with Aditi Gopichand Swami winning bronze with a 146-140 margin against her Indonesian opponent. After which, Jyothi Surekha Vennam completed her treble with third Gold winning 149-145 against Korea’s Chaewon So in the final.
The duo helped India complete 99 medals before the women’s kabaddi team’s 26-25 win over Chinese Taipei got the historic 100th medal and 25th Gold in Hangzhou.