Dhiraj and Kumkum top recurve qualification on opening day in Shillong

World Cup Finals gold medallist B. Dhiraj and Asian Games champion Kumkum Mohod led the men's and women's recurve qualification rounds at the inaugural day of the National archery championships at the Parade Ground in Shillong on Thursday. Play was affected by shifting conditions and was halted before the day’s schedule could be completed.

Dhiraj posted 680 in qualification, recording 24 Xs and 14 10s, while Kumkum scored 677 with 10 Xs and 26 10s, surpassing her previous career best of 671. Former World youth champion Parth Salunkhe produced a season’s best total of 679. The weather moved from sunny and warm to cloudy and windy, and a bout of drizzle tested the archers.

Dhiraj, who reached Shillong at 10 p.m. on Wednesday night, shot 343 in the first segment and, after an unusually long break of more than an hour caused by a schedule change, returned to score 337 in the second segment to finish one point clear at the top. “Because of the fluctuating weather, I got to learn so much in one day. On one side the ground is open, while on the other side there is a huge mountain wall. Whenever there was wind, it was difficult to guess. Happy to have tackled the tricky conditions well,” said Dhiraj.

Kumkum, 17, produced the new personal best of 677 with apparent ease and credited a straightforward approach to the conditions. “I did not think too much about the conditions and tried to give my best,” said the 17-year-old.

Other men’s qualification highlights included Arjun Khara and Devraj Mohapatra both on 674, Arjun recording 15 Xs and Devraj 12 Xs, Sukhchain Singh 672, Atanu Das 669, Neeraj Chauhan 667 and Yashdeep Bhoge 664.

In the women's qualification, Olympian and Asian Games women’s team gold medallist Ankita Bhakat finished second with 662, Sangeeta was third with 660, Sharvari Shende and Gatha Khadake both posted 657, Simranjeet Kaur scored 650, Deepika Kumari placed 10th with 646, Komalika Bari had 642 and Ridhi Phor 640.

The intermittent drizzle and deteriorating light led officials to call off action before completing the day’s programme, leaving the remainder of the schedule to be rescheduled.