Kumkum, Chikitha in line for gold medals

Asian Games gold medallists Kumkum Mohod and Chikitha Taniparthi proved their mettle to reach the recurve and compound women’s individual title clashes respectively in the National archery championships at the Parade Ground here on Sunday.

Both Kumkum and Chikitha secured their maiden National individual medals in elimination stage.

Kumkum toppled strong opponents, including Ridhi Phor, Simranjeet Kaur and Sharvari Shende, to enter the final. She will meet Olympian and her Asiad women’s team gold medal winning team-mate Ankita Bhakat, who beat her Jharkhand pal Komalika Bari, in the final.

Chikitha shot consistently good scores and held her nerve in a tense semifinal match against World Cup Stage medallist Madhura Dhamangaonkar. She found issues with her footing and trailed 28-30 in the first end before a cheeky remark from Madhura irked her.

Chikitha bounced back with a firm resolve to shoot four perfect consecutive rounds and record a 148-147 victory. Madhura, leading by one point after the penultimate end, slipped in the final.

“After losing two points, I told myself to focus on giving my best in the remaining ends. I just followed the process which brought me success at the Asian Games,” said Chikitha, who would meet another first-timer, Madhuravarshini Muruganantham, in the summit clash.

Madhuravarshini, barring her wind-affected pre-quarterfinal match (136-135) against Tamil Nadu team-mate S. Deekshita, gave a series of fine performances to make a bit of history by becoming the first from her state to ensure a podium finish.

“It’s a breakthrough performance. I was not expecting anything as I made a lot of changes, including a change of place (to SAI, Sonepat) for training,” said Madhuravarshini.

The experienced Rajat Chauhan and the promising Priyansh will face off in the compound men’s final.

Olympian B. Dhiraj will take on a lesser-known Dhruv Bagga in the recurve men’s gold medal match.

Important results: Individual: Recurve: Men: Semifinals: B. Dhiraj (SSCB) bt Keshav Rajoria (Pun) 6-0, Dhruv Bagga (Del) bt Mrinal Chauhan (RSPB) 6-4; Bronze medal match: Mrinal Chauhan (RSPB) bt Keshav Rajoria (Pun) 6-4.

Women: Semifinals: Kumkum Mohod (Mah) bt Sharvari Shende (Mah) 6-2, Ankita Bhakat (Jha) bt Komalika Bari (Jha) 6-2; Bronze medal match: Sharvari Shende (Mah) bt Komalika Bari (Jha) 6-4.

Compound: Men: Semifinals: Priyansh (Del) bt Pallapu Charan Srikar (AP) 149-146, Rajat Chauhan (AIP) bt Kushal Dalal (Har) 149-146; Bronze medal match: Pallapu Charan Srikar (AP) bt Kushal Dalal (Har) 147-146.

Women: Semifinals: Madhuravarshini Muruganantham (TN) bt Sakshi Chaudhary (UP) 145-143, Taniparthi Chikitha (Tel) bt Madhura Dhamangaonkar (Mah) 148-147; Bronze medal match: Madhura Dhamangaonkar (Mah) bt Sakshi Chaudhary (UP) 148-143.