Ankita Bhakat and Bhajan Kaur, two of India’s recurve archers, sealed individual quotas in the women’s division of the Final Olympic Qualifier here on Sunday, ensuring their country’s participation in the Olympic Games in Paris next month. After defeating Mobina Fallah of Iran 6-2 to secure the gold medal, Bhajan secured the Indian quota.
Ankita qualified for the Olympics after defeating Gabrielle Monica Bidaure of the Philippines and moving on to the quarterfinals. In the pre-quarterfinals, Ankita, ranked ninth, easily defeated her 40th-seeded opponent, 6-0. As a result, India was granted individual quotas for both the men’s and women’s divisions.
The men’s individual quota from the Asian qualifying leg had previously been secured by Dhiraj Bommadevara. Ankita had defeated Israel’s Shelley Hilton 6-4 and Mikaella Moshe 7-3 in the previous rounds to go to the round of 16. The 25-year-old was defeated 6-4 by Iran’s Mobina Fallah in the quarterfinal.
However, Urantungalag Bishindee of Mongolia was defeated 6-2 by third-seeded Bhajan, who received a bye into the Round of 32, to advance to the fourth round. She achieved the second Indian quota of the day there with a victory over Urska Cavic of Slovenia. After advancing to the final, Bhajan triumphed over Mobina, who had vanquished Ankita.
The top two nations without team quotas on the list will move forward. The men’s team is currently ranked No. 2, one position below the South Korean squad that qualified. The seven nations that came before the women’s team, which is currently ranked eighth, have all already met their team quota.
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