Paris Paralympics 2024: Rakesh Kumar misses para-archery bronze medal by one point

India’s Rakesh Kumar finished a heartbreaking fourth in para-archery men’s individual compound open event.

Rakesh Kumar missed out on winning the bronze medal by one point in the men’s singles compound event at Paris Paralympics 2024. The World No. #1 was one of the medal favourites at Paris and he lived up to the expectations by making it to the semifinals. However, he suffered a loss in the semis against top-seed AI Xinliang of China and had to play for a bronze.

In the bronze medal match, he faced defending Paralympic and Asian Para Games champion He Zihao of China. India’s Rakesh was in the lead midway through the game but a 28 compared to his opponents’ 30 meant that the latter took the lead. That left a big dent in his medal aspirations and Rakesh couldn’t recover from it and had to settle for a fourth-place finish.

Heartbreak for India's Rakesh Kumar 💔The World No. 1 finishes 4th in men's individual compound open bronze medal match after losing 146-147 against defending champion He Zihao of 🇨🇳, who takes 🥉.#Paralympics2024 #ParisParalympics pic.twitter.com/rKyrsUdQUc

— Khel Now (@KhelNow) September 1, 2024

Earlier in the competition, the 39-year-old Indian started off brilliantly in the 1/16 Elimination round against Senegal’s Aliou Drame with a 136-131. Rakesh, a three-time medallist at Asian Para Games including gold in mixed team compound, showed exemplary calmness in the next two rounds with his precision at crucial junctures was appreciable.

In the pre-quarterfinals, he was up against Indonesia’s Ken Swagumilang. Despite giving away the early lead, the Indian came back strongly only to falter in the last arrow. It was down to the shoot-off and the fifth-seeded para-archer hit the bullseye to make it to the next round.

It was no different in the quarterfinals, when he and Canada’s Kyle Tremblay tied at 144-144 at the end of five rounds. In the shoot-off, the Canadian also hit a 10 but the World No. #1 went a step ahead to hit the inner circle which took him to the semis.

Also Read: Top six Indians who finished fourth at Paralympics

The 39-year-old faced his first big opponent in the semis against top-seeded AI Xinliang of China for a place in the finals. Rakesh fell short of the target and lost his opportunity to shoot for the gold medal.

It was another Chinese in the bronze medal match. It seemed like the luck wasn’t favouring Rakesh as he had to face the top two seeded players in the semis and bronze medal match. The Indian para archer came second in both instances and finished without a medal.

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