Teenager Prithika stuns World No. 11 Burun for maiden WC bronze, completes double in Madrid

Madrid, Jul 11 (PTI) Teenage compound archer Prithika Pradeep displayed remarkable composure in a superb comeback win over World No. 11 Hazal Burun of Turkey, clinching her maiden Archery World Cup individual medal and completed a memorable double at Stage 4 here on Saturday. The 17-year-old, who had earlier played a key role in India winning the women's compound team silver, capped a breakthrough tournament by standing firm in her maiden World Cup medal match and winning it 145-142 after trailing in the first end. It also marked an impressive start under celebrated American compound coach Dave Cousins, who joined the Indian setup just before the Madrid World Cup. Earlier, Prithika was India's standout performer in the women's compound team final, where she consistently found the 10-ring even as the experienced duo of Jyothi Surekha Vennam and Chikitha Taniparthi struggled for rhythm. India failed to produce their best at crucial moments and went down 228-232 to a dominant Colombia, settling for the silver medal. India finished their compound campaign with two medals and remained in contention for two more in the recurve section on Sunday. Another teenager, Kirti Sharma, who made her World Cup debut in Antalya last month, will also be eyeing a double. She will partner India No. 1 Dhiraj Bommadevara in the recurve mixed team bronze-medal playoff and also needs one more win in the women's individual event after advancing to the semifinals. In the women's compound individual event, Prithika had missed out on a place in the final after losing 142-144 to Malaysia's Fatin Nurfatehah Mat Salleh in the semifinal, setting up a bronze-medal clash with Hazal. Playing back-to-back matches after her loss in the semis, Prithika looked understandably tense as Hazal opened with three successive 10s, while the Indian dropped an eight to trail 28-30 after the opening end. With Cousins calmly guiding her from behind the shooting line, Prithika gradually settled into her rhythm. She won the second end 29-28 to reduce the deficit to one point before producing a flawless third end of three 10s to draw level at 87-all. The momentum then shifted decisively in the Indian's favour. Hazal cracked under pressure, her final arrow of the fourth end drifting into the seven-ring, while Prithika conceded just one point to claim it 29-26 and open up a three-point cushion heading into the final three arrows. Hazal responded with two 10s to finish on 142, leaving Prithika, on 135 after two arrows, in need of an eight with her final shot to secure the bronze. The teenager, however, showed nerves of steel, drilling a perfect X-ring 10 to seal a 145-142 victory and her maiden World Cup medal in emphatic fashion. Women's team silver ============== World No. 3 in women's compound team event, India, who had won gold at the season-opening Archery World Cup Stage 1 in Puebla, Mexico, in April, never really posed any threat to World No. 14 Colombia, who produced a resurgent display to clinch the title with authority. Prithika was India's standout performer, drilling six 10s, including two perfect ends. But the biggest letdown was the dip in form of Indian stalwart Jyothi, who managed just three 10s from her eight arrows as India failed to give any fight. For Colombia, on the other hand, Alejandra Usquiano was flawless, reeling off eight successive 10s to prove to be the difference between the two teams. Even compound great, World No. 7 and former world champion Sara Lopez, had a relatively inconsistent outing, but Usquiano's brilliance ensured Colombia remained in control throughout. India endured a slow start, posting 55 in the opening end, while Colombia raced ahead with 57, thanks largely to Alejandra's flawless shooting. The World No. 4 opened with effortless 10s, setting the tone for her team. Shooting last, India needed three 10s to draw level. Jyothi and Prithika delivered, but Chikitha slipped to an eight as India conceded the opening end and trailed by two points. Colombia raised the bar in the second end, producing a perfect 60 as Alejandra continued her 10 spree, with Mariana Rodriguez and Sara also finding their rhythm. India on the other hand dropped two more points to manage 58, slipping further behind at 113-117 at the halfway stage. India responded strongly in the third end. Barring Jyothi's opening nine, they regrouped brilliantly, drilling five successive 10s to post 59. Colombia managed three 10s and three nines for 57, allowing India to take the end and cut the deficit to two points at 172-174. However, India faltered again in the decisive fourth end under pressure. The rookie pair of Prithika and Chikitha struck 10s, but Jyothi continued to struggle to find the middle. Needing a perfect finish to force a shoot-off, India could only manage 56, compared to Colombia's 58. PTI TAP AM APA TAP UNG