Indian archers hold sway

India's dominance continued on the third day of the second Commonwealth Archery Championships, as their ace archers entered the final round in individual recurve and compound as well as team events, in Jamshedpur, on Friday.

In the compound men's team event, the team, comprising Abhishek Verma, junior compound world champion Paltan Hansda, Santosh Tamang and Chungda Sherpa, defeated South Africa 223-221 in the semi-finals.

It would next play against strong contenders Australia in the final on Saturday.

Australia, comprising Michael Felix, Derek Jacobs and Pat Coghlan, entered the final after ousting England 233-224 in the other semi-final.

England bagged the bronze medal after their archers Neil Bowley, Steve Dixon, Neil Wakelin and Andrew Rikunenko got the better of South Africa's Wesley John Gates, Septimush Cilliers, Renoant Hony Venter and Daniel Werner Bonthuys 228-222 in the third place contest.

In the individual women's recurve section, SAF Games gold medallist Dola Banerjee maintained her winning streak, defeating teammate Reena Kumari 100-97 in the semi-finals.

Dola was pitted against England's leading archer Naomi Folkard, who outclassed her compatriot and Athens Olympic bronze medalist Alison Williomson 106-98 in the other semi-final round. Alison had to be content with the bronze medal, as she shot 103 points against India's Reena Kumari's 100 for the third place match.

India's recurve men's team also moved to the last two after they beat New Zealand 209-190 in the first semi-final whereas other finalist England defeated Scotland 200-198.

Scotland team gathered 206 to grab bronze against New Zealand (204).

The final of the individual men's compound event will be a foreign affair as India's medal hopes in the section were shattered in the preliminary stages.

Reigning junior World champion Paltan Hansda, Santosh Tamang, Abhisekha Verma, Chungda Sherpa lost before the quarter-final round.

Stephen Thomas Clifton (New Zealand), who defeated Steve Dixon of England in the semi-finals 115-112, is pitted against Scotland's leading archer Andrew Ward in Saturday's final.

Dixon, however, regained form to defeat Reno Anthony Venter (South Africa) and grab the bronze medal.

In the individual women's compound division, ace archer Jhanua Hansda and Manjudha Soy will meet in the final.

While world record holder Hansda trounced Linda Garner (England) 115-110 to enter the final, Manjhuda dreated Andrea Gales (England) 112-107.

Linda Garner defeated her team-mate Gales to claim the bronze by 111-102 points.

The individual recurve men's section was a foreign affair as Chris Lewkowski (Australia), who tied against Indian captain Jayanta Talukdar in the quarter-final yesterday, maintained his winning streak as he shot his arrow with perfection to oust Indian archer Tarundeep Rai 111-109 in the semi-final and reserve his berth in the last two.

Lewkowski will meet Scotland's Simon Needham in the final.

Simon defeated Md Nure Alom (Bangladesh), Vishwas (India) and Managal Singh, who claimed bronze medal, to enter the final round.

Mangal defeated Tarundeep 106-103 to grab the bronze.