Kumari qualifies for 7th Hyundai Archery World Cup Final

Four-time Hyundai Archery World Cup Final silver medallist Deepika Kumari beat Michelle Kroppen of Germany, 7-3, to take recurve women’s gold at the Salt Lake City stage of the 2018 Hyundai Archery World Cup and book a ticket to the circuit Final in Samsun.

“Finally! That’s what I said when I won this gold medal,” said Deepika, who’s last victory at a World Cup came six years ago, in Antalya back in 2012.

The Indian archer opened the match with 29 out of a possible 30 points to take a 2-0 lead, before splitting the points with Kroppen in the second.

The German archer, making her individual debut in the finals arena, won the third set and tied the match at 3-3. Deepika then took the fourth and fifth sets with a 29 and a 27, over Michelle’s pair of 26s, to win the match, 7-3.

“I was repeating to myself, ‘just do it the best, this is your time; just enjoy your game and forget about winning or losing and have fun’,” said Deepika.

With the gold in Salt Lake City, Deepika automatically qualifies for the 2018 Hyundai Archery World Cup Final in Samsun, Turkey, which will be her seventh appearance at the season-ending event.

“Do I feel relieved to qualify? Yes and no. I’m not expecting anything, at the moment I’m just enjoying my game, I want to enjoy my game,” she said.

Tan Ya-Ting of Chinese Taipei beat Gabriela Bayardo of the Netherlands in four sets, 7-1, to the recurve women’s bronze medal.

The third stage of the Hyundai Archery World Cup takes place in Salt Lake City, USA on 18-24 June.