Archers reign supreme with five gold two silver in compound

Indian compound archers made a clean sweep grabbing all the five gold medals on offer along with two silver to rule the roost in the 12th South Asian Games here.
With compound section making its debut in the SA Games, the Indian archers seized the opportunity to maximum to top the medals chart ahead of Bangladesh, who finished with two silver and two bronze medals and third placed Bhutan (0-1-1).
Indian recurve archers are also in line for five gold and two silver medals when the finals for the Olympic-category event takes place tomorrow.
The compound trio of Purvasha Shende, Jyoti Vennam and Lily Chanu Paonam started the gold rush for India downing their opponents from Bangladesh 228-217 in the morning session.

Purvasha went on to win a hattrick of gold medals as she also emerged the individual champion and a third in mixed pair with Asian Games team gold and individual silver medallist Abhishek Verma.
After a near perfect round in the team event where he shot 15 perfect 10s out of a possible 16, Verma lost to compatriot Rajat Chauhan by two points in the individual final as both of them returned with two gold medals each.

World ranked no 5 Chauhan lived up to his ranking as he edged out world no 6 Verma 144-142 to emerge the individual champion in a thrilling men's final in the afternoon session.

Having started out with a perfect 30, Verma slipped in the second end as they were locked 58-58. In the third end, Verma edged past by one point 87-86 before sliding again in the last two ends shooting a poor 28-27 as a consistent Chauhan wrapped up the issue 29-29.
Purvasha, however, reigned supreme against her compatriot Jyothi Vennam in another all-Indian final as she won 138-133.
Earlier, beginning India's campaign the women's team of Purvasha, Jyothi and Lily Chanu took a commanding 10-point lead midway into their final against Bangladeshi opponents before settling the issue 228-217.
Dashing Delhi archer Verma was at his best as he shot all perfect 10s as he along with Chauhan and Manash Jyoti Changamai raced to another one-sided win when they beat Bhutanese 230-219.

Verma and Purvasha reigned supreme in the mixed pair as they thrashed the Bangladeshi duo of Sushmita Banik and Mohammad Anowerul Kadar 156-138 for another gold.