London, July 31 (IANS) Rahul Banerjee secured a rare win for India in the Olympic archery individual event after his teammates Jayanta Talukdar and Chekrovolu Swuro were eliminated from the competition here Tuesday.
Banerjee’s 6-0 win over Mongolian Jantsan Gantugs was a much-needed positive for the struggling Indian team, which has been off target ever since the tournament began at Lord’s. He faces Rafal Dobrowolski of Poland in the second knock-out round tie later in the day.
Banerjee shot six tens out of a maximum nine arrows to stamp his authority on the match.
Earlier, Talukdar and Swuro lost to their respective American opponents in contrasting fashion to exit the competition.
Talukdar got a 0-6 hammering from America’s Jacob Wukie in the opening men’s individual elimination round while Swuro was sent packing after being pipped in the shoot-off by Jennifer Nichols.
Jayanta was outplayed by Wukie, who won the silver for the US in the team event.
The American shot six 10 pointers in the maximum nine arrows while Jayanta was able to hit the bulls-eye just once.
The writing was on the wall in the first set in which Jayanta shot a five before losing it 22-27.
In the women’s Eliminator, the score was 5-5 going into the shoot-off, where a single arrow on either side decides the tie. Both Nichols and Swuro shot a nine but the American had the last laugh as her arrow was found closer to the centre of the target.
Swuro’s shooting had been erratic in the team event and the same was the case Tuesday morning at Lord’s. She scored four tens to her opponent’s two but could not deliver in crucial moments.
The Nagaland archer needed a 10 to win the fifth and final set. But the occasion got the better of her as she waited and trembled before managing a six.
Indian men’s team went out of medal reckoning event after losing their opening eliminator to Japan. The highly-rated women were humbled by Denmark in their first knock-out match.
