Hangzhou, Oct 7: Ojas Deotale and Jyothi Surekha Vennam led India’s medal rush with a hat-trick of gold as the compound archers ended South Korea’s dominance to propel the country to its best-ever haul of nine medals at the Asian Games here on Saturday.
The compound archers claimed all the five gold medals on offer while veteran Abhishek Verma and Aditi Swami secured one silver and a bronze each.
The recurve archers earlier on Friday bagged two medals, India’s first in 13 years in the Olympic discipline.
India had won two silver medals in archery in the 2018 edition in Indonesia.
Reigning world champion Aditi began the penultimate day at the continental showpiece by winning a bronze in the women’s compound individual event when she prevailed over Indonesia’s Ratih Zilizati Fadhly in a one-sided play-off.
The 17-year-old Indian, who bagged the World Championship title in Berlin two months ago, was not at her best and dropped four points but that did not matter much as she won 146-140.
Later Jyothi, who had already secured a gold in mixed pair and women’s team events, made it three in a row when she rallied to defeat her formidable South Korean opponent So Chaewon 149-145 in the women’s compound individual final.
“I feel short of words and lots of emotions are going through. I need some time to give this a thinking,” Jyothi said after clinching India’s first-ever individual gold medal in archery.
Master vs apprentice
In a battle between the master and apprentice, it was the 21-year-old reigning world champion Deotale who emerged winner by two points.
Deotale, who secured the Worlds title at Berlin, was near flawless and dropped just one point to overwhelm Verma 149-147, which completed India’s overall dominance in the compound section.
Not considered compound heavyweights, South Korea still clinched two gold each in 2018 and 2014 editions.
It was like a dream come true for Deotale who won the Asian and World titles in within two months.
“This was my first Asian Games and I have won gold medals in all three events. What more do I need? I feel like I am living in a dream,” Deotale said.
For the 34-year-old Verma, this was his second Asian Games individual silver medal, having won it in 2014 as well. Verma also has a team gold (2014) and a team silver (2018). (PTI)
