The Indian men’s compound archery team, comprising of Abhishek Verma, Ojas Deotale, and Prathamesh Jawkar, showcased an exceptional performance, securing the gold medal by defeating South Korea 235-230 during the Asian Games.
From the outset, India demonstrated superiority, establishing an early lead of 58-55. Their momentum was aided by South Korea's slightly off-target shots, resulting in five nine-pointers.
As the competition progressed into the second end, the Korean side failed to hit a perfect 10, falling further behind. On the contrary, the Indian archers consistently found the inner circle, maintaining their precision. Despite Jawkar's solitary eight-point arrow, the Indian contingent finished the second end with a two-point lead, 116-114.
The adrenaline further surged in the third end. While the Koreans started strong with a score of 28/30, the Indian team responded flawlessly, achieving a perfect 30. A subsequent nine-point shot by Korea, contrasted by India's consistent performance, widened the gap between the two teams to 175-170 at the end of the third segment.
Determined to seal their victory, the Indian archers exhibited perfect form in the final end, scoring 60/60, leaving no room for a Korean comeback. This win reiterates India's rising dominance in the world of archery, especially on grand stages like the Asian Games.
Ojas, Abhishek, and Prathamesh stand as illustrious names in the realm of archery. Originating from Nagpur, Ojas' love for the sport was evident early on as he crafted bows and arrows from simple household brooms. This early fascination was a precursor to his outstanding achievement: clinching the compound men's gold at the 2023 Hyundai World Archery Championships.
Abhishek, an alumnus of Hindu College, continued his academic journey at Georgetown University in Washington DC. Subsequent to his educational endeavors, he assumed the role of Editor-Publisher for 'India Worldwide', a sought-after monthly publication catering to Non-Resident Indians in the USA.
Contrastingly, Prathamesh etched his name in archery accolades by seizing the gold at the Shanghai 2023 Hyundai Archery World Cup Stage 2. In a nail-biting match, he edged out the World Number 1, Mike Schloesser, by a single point. Not stopping there, he went on to claim a silver medal at the Archery World Cup Final 2023 held in Hermosillo, Mexico.
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