India has two shots at gold at 2019 World Archery Youth Championships
There will be two gold medal chances for India at the 2019 World Archery Youth Championships.
On Thursday, Komalika Bari outlasted four opponents including number-two-seeded Yeom Hyejeong on her way to the recurve women junior's final. Then, on Friday, Raginee Markoo and Sukhbeer Singh secured themselves a gold medal match berth in the compound junior mixed team competition.
The Indian pair defeated Iran, 154-141, in their last match of the eliminations.
“I feel very, very good. I had a good match and did my best. We worked hard for that. I shot very bravely and I was a little bit nervous,” said Raginee.
Sukhbeer added: “I made my best shots, I felt confident and I shot the X. I want to thank my coach for helping.”
Madrid is Markoo and Singh’s debut at the World Archery Youth Championships.
Singh already won bronze with the Indian compound junior men’s team. Along with Tushar Sanjay Phadtare and Sangampreet Singh Bisla, Sukhbeer’s India upset Colombia in the third-place playoff, 234-231.
“It's a special day for me. It's my first international event and I will shoot for a gold medal and I have already won bronze. I have a good feeling,” he said.
Surinder Singh, the national team coach in Madrid, said he was satisfied despite two losses in team bronze finals on Friday.
“We've worked together very hard for the last month. We did team practise. The coordination was good, and they worked hard. That's why the team won a medal and they were in semifinals,” he explained.
“It's a good performance from us. I'm satisfied with that result. But I want even harder work in the individual area. If we win individually, then definitely team medals will come easily.”
The success of the juniors has given hope to the cadets.
"It's a great encouragement for us to do well,” said 15-year-old Arshiya Chaudhary. “Because we believe that next time it might be us who shoot in a gold medal match.”
The compound junior mixed team final takes place on Saturday evening in Madrid. Komalika Bari will shoot for recurve cadet women's gold on Sunday against Waka Sonoda.
The 2019 World Archery Youth Championships takes place on 19-25 August in Madrid, Spain.
