World Archery Youth Championships 2021: Team India's Compound Cadet Under 18 Women's team has emerged victorious as they clinched the gold at the World Archery Youth Championships 2021, currently underway in Wroclaw, Poland. The team comprises archers Priya Gurjar, Varshini Senthilkumar and Parneet Kaur.
Indian archers - men and women - have reached four finals across the team events in recurve and compound categories - cadet and junior. In the cadet events, the U-18 women’s compound team made it to the gold medal matches on Saturday.
India's brightest - Priya Gurjar, Varshini Senthilkumar and Parneet Kaur have surpassed Hazal Burun, Irmak Yuksel and Nehir Sarihan of Turkey 228-216 to win the top prize. The Indian compound archery girls had defeated hosts Poland 227-199 in their quarter-final before edging past Italy 226-223 in the semi-final, while Turkey overcame Spain 230-222 before a 231-225 triumph against Russia.
Team India 🇮🇳 takes compound cadet women’s gold! 🥇👏 pic.twitter.com/azbJo04ZWc
— World Archery (@worldarchery) August 14, 2021
On Tuesday, the girls and mixed team broke two Under-18 world records during their ranking round of the World Youth Championships. First, the trio of women combined for a total of 2067 to better the previous world record by 22 points and clinched the top spot of the qualification round.
The previous record was held by the USA team - comprising of Keane Sanchiko, Breanna Theodore and Savannah Vanderwier - which had registered 2045 points in Rosario in 2017. Gurjar shot a total of 696 to take the individual pole, while Kaur (third) and Senthilkumar (fourth) were the next best Indians to shoot the record-breaking points. Meanwhile, in the compound cadet mixed team event, Gurjar paired with Kushal Dalal to take the top spot by shooting a world record score of 1401.
"My goal is to become world champion and I will do my best," 17-year-old Priya Gurjar said after the win on Tuesday. The teen, who had finished on top in the qualification round, also combined with Kushal Dalal (705) for a mixed pair tally of 1401 to break the previous mark held by Danish team (Natacha Stutz and Mathias Fullerton who shot 1387) at the Madrid World Youth Championships in 2019.
The top seeds lived up to that brilliant form and have clinched the gold against Turkey on Saturday. More about other events here.
GOLD for #TeamIndia's Compound Cadet U18 Women's team at the 2021 World Archery Youth Championships.
— JSW Sports (@jswsports) August 14, 2021
India's Priya Gurjar, Varshini Senthilkumar and Parneet Kaur beat Hazal Burun, Irmak Yuksel and Nehir Sarihan of Turkey 2⃣2⃣8⃣ - 2⃣1⃣6⃣ to win 🥇.pic.twitter.com/0ATEqawJtJ
Feature Image Credit: World Archery/Twitter