press trust of india
Copenhagen, August 1: Rajat Chauhan earned India their first-ever individual medal in the World Archery Championships (WAC) when the compound marksman bagged a silver after going down to home favourite Stephan Hansen in the final here Saturday.
The 2014 Asian Games team gold medalist, Chauhan, was going neck and neck till the third set when he shot a poor eight and nine as Hansen gained a three-point lead before wrapping up the issue 147-143 in a fiercely contested final.
India have two more medal prospects in the recurve
section Sunday when the women’s team of Deepika Kumari, Rimil Buriuly and Laxmirani Majhi will vie for the gold medal against their opponents from Russia.
Laxmirani will be eying a second medal from the meet when she competes against Misun Choi of Korea in the bronze medal play-off.
In a battle between two 20-year-olds, Chauhan put pressure on the reigning Youth World Champion as he matched the local lad by shooting two perfect 10s and one nine in the first set. The second set was no different as both of them shot two 10s each en route to totaling 58-58. But the third set changed the complexion of the match. Hansen managed a three-point lead and never lost control.
“It was pure bad luck,” stated Chauhan after the end of the final. “I gave it my all and in such situations luck does matter.”
