Excelsior Sports Correspondent
JAMMU, Aug 29: Pair of Rakesh Kumar and Jyoti Baliyan trounced Thailand’s Anon Aungaphinan and Praphaporn Homjanthuek by 147-141 in pre quarter compound mixed pair Archery match but lost to Turkish opponents including Oznur Cure and Bulent Korkmaz by 151-153 points in quarterfinals match at Tokyo today.
Both the archers have been trained under the guidance of Coach Kuldeep Vedwan at Sports Complex Katra, established by the Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board. “Rakesh Kumar is native of Katra while Jyoti Baliyan belongs to Uttar Pradesh, but both of them were getting training at the Sports Complex, for the last four years,” said an official of the Sports Complex Katra.
The official further said that Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha who is also the Chairman of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board congratulated both the sportspersons for their excellent performance in Tokyo Paralympics, whereas Dr Ashok Bhan, Member Shrine Board and Chairman of Governing Council of Shrine Board’s Sports Complex and Ramesh Kumar, CEO, SMVDSB wished them good luck for their upcoming matches.
Rakesh Kumar who became the first Indian to shoot 699 in the qualification will now be in the hunt for an individual medal in the compound open section. In the last-16 round on Tuesday, the third seeded Rakesh will face 14th seed Marian Marecak, a two-time 49-year-old Olympian from Slovakia, whereas in the women’s compound open section, where the lone challenger Jyoti Baliyan lost to Kerrie-Louise Leonard of Ireland by 141-137 points in the first round.
Earlier Rakesh and Jyoti have won gold and silver medals respectively under Fazza Cup World Ranking tournament which was held at Dubai in February 2021.
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