Rio -- The Indian women's archery team lost to Russia in the quarterfinals, going down 25-23 in a shoot-off at the Rio Olympics on Sunday.
The Indian team, consisting of Deepika Kumari, Laxmirani Majhi and Bombayla Devi, won two sets to level scores at 4-4 before losing the shoot-off, which had all the archers from both teams firing an arrow each.
It was a heartbreaking exit for India, who fought back after a bumpy start against the world champions. After scoring just 48 of the possible 60 points to concede the first set, they responded with a vastly improved showing in the next two.
The Russians, who scored 55 points to take the first set, dropped their level only by a whisker but the Indian girls were quick to swoop in. Two perfect tens among their six shots in the set and a score of 53 meant the match was now on level terms. Each set win is awarded with two points and the teams were now tied 2-2.
In the third set, the Indian charge clearly rattled the Russians who had their worst set of the match, slipping to just 50 points. With India's talisman Deepika Kumari finding her verve and Bombalya Devi also nailing a perfect ten, India took the set and with it led the contest. Even a draw in the final set would have been enough to ensure qualification for the semifinals.
However, urged on by a vociferous corner, the Russian girls started strongly at this make or break stage. Despite Deepika and Laxmi scoring perfect tens once each in the set, they went down by a two point margin and the match now reached a crescendo.
Each of the archers had one shot each with the sum total counting for victory. Previous scores counted for nothing and the Russians threw the early challenge by scoring a perfect ten. Bombalya missed her mark to hit a 7, putting India immediately on the back foot. A 6 by Russia's second archer gave the Indians a window of opportunity and Laxmi responded with an 8.
The third Russian archer hit a 9 leaving Deepika with the unenviable task of hitting bullseye to ensure a tie and keep India alive. She could only manage an 8 and with it, a disconsolate Indian team exited the event, much to the dismay of a robust Indian support group at the venue.
Of the 231 points scored by India, Bombayla shot 79, Laxmirani 75 and Deepika 77 points respectively.
"It is disappointing, but it is also confidence-boosting since Russia is a strong team," Bombayla later told ESPN. "It will help us improve our performance in the future. Competing at the Olympics is a big deal. Reaching the quarterfinals is a huge improvement from our previous performances."
The event was staged at the Sambodromo, where the annual carnival in Rio begins from. The venue itself is pretty rudimentary, with unkempt approach roads and staircases, but the bewitching backdrop more than compensates for it. The competition was held on an overcast day with dark, though not menacing clouds lurking as the quarterfinals got underway.
Two of the Indian girls, Deepika and Bombayla, were part of the team that put in a dismal performance at London four years ago, where the winds at the Lord's cricket ground torpedoed their campaign. They arrived in Rio better prepared, but the coach Purnima Mahato felt that the conditions did not make it easy for them.
"We were trailing 0-2 at the start of the day and managed to make it 4-2 later on. But the wind was quite strong when it was our turn in the final stages. Even the spectators could tell it was making it difficult," she said.
"You have to readjust your aim according to the force and the direction of the wind. It was difficult to keep the bow-hand steady."
The archers will now compete in the individual events that begin on Monday.