Indian archer Deepika Kumari reached the women’s 1/16 Eliminations at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics on Wednesday. She was up against Bhutan’s 31-year-old Karma.

In Set 1, the Indian started strong by hitting 8, 9, 9 to get a total score of 26. Her opponent, who was Bhutan’s flag bearer at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics hit 8, 6, 9 to get a total accumulated score of 23.

In set 2, the Indian hit identical targets and recorded an identical score to take a 4-0 lead. Her Bhutanese counterpart could not get off to a good start and kept producing mediocre shots. In the second set, she hit two 7s followed by a nine to get another 23.

The strong winds, too, played a role in her defeat as she could control the arrow which flew off the bow. Deepika, on the other hand, looked confident and comfortable as she released the arrows from her bow.

In set 3, the Indian started with a 9 and sealed the deal with a 10 in the second hit. She followed it by an 8 and got an accumulated score of 27. Karma could not deal with the pressure and started with 6 and followed it up with an 8 and then ended strong with a 10 to get a total score of 24. She had a bright smile on her face and laughed after she hit the X.

Deepika Kumari will next face Jennifer Mucina-Fernandez of the United States of America.

Earlier in the day, Indian archers Tarundeep Rai and Pravin Jadhav made second-round exits after a promising start. Now, only Atanu Das remains in the men’s individual events.

Olympic debutant Pravin got knocked out world number 2 Galsan Bazarzhapov in his opening match only to suffer a heavy defeat to world champion Brady Ellison in the second round. The 25-year-old could not continue the impressive form that he had produced earlier in the day and succumbed to Ellison, the American world number one in his next match.

Rai, too, went down to Itay Shanny of Israel in a tight shoot-off finish for a heartbreaking exit in his swansong Olympics.