Shillong, Nov 14: Rajasthan’s 13-year-old Pratibha Kandara and Punjab’s Gursehaj Singh Sandhu won the women’s and men’s Indian Round qualification gold medals at the NTPC Senior National Archery Championship at the Umsawli Parade Ground here today.
Both finished level on points with the silver medallists, with the official standings placing them first. The championship is organised by the Archery Association of Meghalaya under the aegis of the Archery Association of India.
In the men’s Indian Round, Sandhu trailed Andhra Pradesh’s Solagam Sambasiva by five points after the first 30m series. He then shot 347, the highest second-series score in the field, to draw level on 686 and take gold. Gaurav Sanjay Chandane of the All India Police Sports Control Board took bronze with 684, one point ahead of Uttar Pradesh’s Subham.
In the women’s event, Kandara shot 331 and 330 for a total of 661. Punjab’s Bhawna Rani wiped out a three-point deficit with a second series of 333 to finish level on 661 and take silver. Dipika Pandey won a second bronze of the day for the All India Police Sports Control Board, climbing from seventh after the first series to third with a second series of 337, for a total of 659.
For host state Meghalaya, 18-year-old Remedy Nongpluh scored 659 to finish 21st in the men’s field, just two points outside the top 20. Nineteen-year-old Dayaka Sohbar led the State’s women with 625 in 26th place. Together, the pair scored 1,284 to put Meghalaya 14th in mixed team qualification.
(Archery Association of Meghalaya photo)