Bangkok, March 25 (NationPress) India kicked off their medal tally at the Asia Cup Archery Stage I tournament by securing two bronze medals on Wednesday, thanks to remarkable performances in both the women’s recurve team and men’s compound team events at the SAT Football Stadium.

The Indian women’s recurve team, consisting of Ruma Biswas, Kirti, and Ridhi, achieved a decisive 5-1 victory over Malaysia to earn a place on the podium. They had previously qualified third in the qualification round with an aggregate score of 1915, spearheaded by Ruma’s score of 650, with Kirti contributing 638 and Ridhi 627.

During their campaign, they notched a 6-2 win against Chinese Taipei in the quarter-finals but faced a setback against the People’s Republic of China in the semi-finals, losing 5-1.

The second bronze for India was clinched by the compound men’s team, where Rajat Chauhan, Uday Kamboj, and Rishabh Yadav narrowly defeated Bhutan 234-232 in a closely fought playoff. Earlier, the trio had triumphed over Chinese Taipei with a score of 238-228 in the quarter-finals, but fell just short against Vietnam in the semi-finals, losing 234-233.

In the qualification stage, the Indian men’s compound team excelled, finishing at the top with a total of 2126 points. Rajat Chauhan led the team with a score of 712, while Rishabh Yadav followed closely with 708 and Uday Kamboj scored 706, highlighting India’s prowess in this discipline.

Looking ahead, India remains a strong contender for medals in various categories. The mixed team competitions are set for Thursday, with Indian pairs participating in both recurve and compound events.

India is poised for more podium finishes, as both the women’s compound team, featuring Chikitha Taniparthi, Raj Kaur, and Tejal Rajendra Salve, and the men’s recurve team, comprising Devaang Gupta, Sukhchain Singh, and Juyel Sarkar, have advanced to their respective gold medal matches against Kazakhstan on Friday.

In individual competitions, Tejal Rajendra Salve will compete for bronze in the women’s compound category, while an all-Indian final in the men’s compound event is guaranteed, with Prathamesh Jawkar set to face Uday Kamboj. Additionally, Rajat Chauhan has a chance to increase his medal count by winning his bronze medal match.

Meanwhile, Ridhi Phor will also compete for bronze in the women’s recurve event, though India will not have representation in the men’s recurve individual medal rounds.

The Indian contingent, comprising 16 members (eight men and eight women), has been actively participating in both recurve and compound disciplines at this continental meet, showcasing the nation’s growing strength in archery on the global stage.