New Delhi, October 8: Indian women's recurve team showed nerves of steel to win the gold, the World Cup champions men's trio faltered and settled for a bronze in the archery competition of the Commonwealth Games at the Yamuna Sports Complex here today.
Indian women's recurve team of Dola Banerjee, Bombayala Devi Laishram and Deepika Kumari fought back brilliantly to cut a four-point lead and rally past their English opponents in the final round to clinch the gold medal.
The top-seed Indian men's team of Rahul Banerjee, Tarundeep Rai and Jayanta Talukdar were stunned by the Aussies trio of Matthew Gray, Mat Masonwells and Taylor 211-216 in the semi-finals.
But the trio made amends in the bronze play-off beating England 221-218 for a podium finish.
Trailing 151-154 till the third set, the women's side rode on some luck and perfect 10s by double Olympian Dola and Deepika to pip England 207-206 and earn the country the first Commonwealth Games gold in archery.
As a matter of fact, archery made a return to the Commonwealth Games only for the second time here after making a debut in the 1982 edition in Brisbane.
A boisterous crowd support screaming 'Come On India... Bharat Mata Ki Jai' created a pressure-filled situation for the English archers who went wayward in the final round to give away the opening advantage.
In the semi-finals, the women's trio of Bombayala Devi Laishram, Deepika Kumari and the experienced Dola Banerjee thrashed a lowly fifth seeded Malaysians 213-185.
England trio of Naomi Folklard, Amy Oliver and Alison Williamson got the better of Canada 208-200 in the other last-four.
Bombayala shot a poor 6 out of 10 to let down the Indian team who managed 48 at the end of six arrrows in round one as their opponents took a four-point lead.
Down 48-52, India reduced the deficit to one-point as England shot 102 at the end of second round.
In a thrilling third round, both the Indian and English teams shot an identical 52, handing the hosts some advantage as the tilted home support created a perfect atmosphere for the home team to go for the final kill.
The script folded India's way in the final round, as an otherwise erratic Bombayla did not let down shooting two 9s, while in-form Dola and Deepika remained consistent.
It was Oliver who did a Bombayala shooting 6 that tilted the match in India's favour as the crowd began to roar.
In the final arrow, Williamson shot an 8 that meant the veteran, Dola, needed a perfect 10 in her last attempt.
Dola, who is the only Indian woman to win the World Cup Finals (2007) did not disappoint, shooting the bull's eye to earn Indian women's team the team gold.
In the men's semi-finals, the World Cup Stage IV champions Indian team dished out an inconsistent performance as the fifth-ranked Aussies performed better to make the final cut.
Rai, who was elminated in the individual round after a 13th place finish, shot a poor 6 as India trailed 50-56 after the first set of 12 arrows.
The Athens Olympian Rai, who has made a comeback after a shoulder injury that put him out for about two years, gained slowly his form as the trio shot matched the Aussies with identical 55s in the second round.
But it was not enough as they still trailed England by six points.
Rai shot two perfect 10s but this time Banerjee let down with a six in third round as the Aussies trio settled the issue by over five points. PTI
