Dhiraj Bommadevara bagged a silver at the Asian Continental Qualification Tournament to clinch India’s first Paris Olympics quota in archery.
As Dhiraj stood for his quarter-final and semi-final of the Asian Continental Qualifier Tournament (CQT) with the weight of a 2024 Paris Olympics quota riding along, the 22-year-old was determined to win. Dhiraj first ousted Sadegh Ashrafi Bavili of Iran 6-0 (28-27, 28-25, 28-27) in the quarterfinal, then in the semi-final he knocked out another Iranian Mohammadhossein Golshani 6-0 (30-27, 29-25, 29-27). In a nail-biting encounter that went down to a shoot-off, Dhiraj ultimately settled for the silver medal after a 6-5 defeat (10-9). Despite the narrow loss, his exceptional performance secured India’s first Paris Olympics quota in archery.
Dhiraj remarked, “I’m extremely happy that I sealed this quota for the country,” Dhiraj said from Bangkok. “It was a long wait. We couldn’t get the quota at the World Championships, Asian Games and the Asian Championships. This was the last chance for qualifying this year, so I gave it my all today.”
Earlier in the day, Lin blanked veteran Indian archer Tarundeep Rai 6-0 in the quarterfinal before getting the better of Hong Kong’s Kwok Yin Chai 6-4 in the five-set thrilling semi-final.
India however failed to secure a quota in the women’s individual section after The World No.95 Ankita Bhakat made a quarterfinal exit, losing to Ziyodakhon Abdusattorova of Uzbekistan.
