India’s upcoming recurve archer Dhiraj Bommadevara narrowly missed out on an Archery World Cup Final medal in Hermosillo, Mexico on Monday. The world no. 15 stunned the two-time Olympic champion Kim Woo-Jin with some tight shooting but lost to Mauro Nespoli of Italy in the bronze-medal play-off.
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The 22-year-old started the day by beating Kim 6-2 in the quarter-finals but lost in the semis to Lee Woo Seok of South Korea 1-7. Then in the third-place match against the Italian opponent, Bommadevara did not start well and lost the first set 29-30. The wind played its part in the second set and tied the second set at 27-27. Come the third, the Indian made a comeback in the match as Mauro Nespoli shot a seven and an eight.
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With scores tied at 3-3, Dhiraj Bommadevara had a solid chance to seal a medal, and Nespoli’s series of 9, 8, and 10, increased the chances of that. But the Indian got under pressure and shot an eight to squander the chance. The game did not end there as Bommadevara forced a shootout with a series of 9, 9, and, 10. The three-time Olympic medalist Nespoli held his nerve to score a 10, but Bommadevara could only manage a 9.
Meanwhile, India ended the campaign with just one medal; Prathmesh Jawkar had won a silver medal in the men’s compound event on Sunday.