Archery World Cup: Deepika strikes individual gold

Salt Lake City (Utah) [United States], June 25 (ANI): Indian archer Deepika Kumari on Monday bagged an individual gold medal in the women's recurve event here at the Archery World Cup, thus making a direct cut into the final to be held in Samsun, Turkey later this year.

The 24-year-old swept aside Germany's Michelle Kroppen 7-3 at the Salt Lake City to pave the way for her seventh appearance in the season-ending showdown event.

"Finally! That's what I said when I won this gold medal," Deepika, whose last victory at a World Cup came six years ago in Antalya back in 2012, expressed after the victory.

Reflecting on her emotions during the competition, Deepika said that she was constantly motivating herself and her focus was on enjoying the game.

"I was repeating to myself, 'just do it the best, this is your time; just enjoy your game and forget about winning or losing and have fun," Deepika said.

"Do I feel relieved to qualify? Yes and no. I'm not expecting anything, at the moment I'm just enjoying my game, I want to enjoy my game," she added.

The four-time Archery World Cup Final silver-medalist opened the match with 29 out of a possible 30 points to take a 2-0 lead, before splitting the points with Kroppen in the second.

The German archer, who was making her individual debut in the finals arena, won the third set and tied the match at 3-3. Deepika then took the fourth and fifth sets with a score of 29 and 27, over Michelle's pair of 26s, to win the match by 7-3.

Meanwhile, Tan Ya-Ting of Chinese Taipei beat Gabriela Bayardo of the Netherlands in four sets, 7-1, winning bronze in the women's recurve event.

The Archery World Cup Final will be held in Turkey on September 29 and 30. (ANI)

This story has not been edited. It has been published as provided by ANI