Jayanta Talukdar wins Archery World Cup bronze

Jayanta Talukdar won a bronze medal in the men's recurve section of Archery World Cup final at Edinburgh today.

For the first time, three Indian archers, two women — Dola Banerjee and Deepika Kumari — along with Taulkdar, had made it to the grand final.

The women's duo yesterday made a first round exit but the Guwahati archer, who represents Steel Plant Sports Board, ensured a medal for India, winning the bronze with a 6-2 win over Marco Galiazzo of Italy.

Taulkdar thus erased his bitter memories of the World Cup finals in 2006 and 2009, when he bowed in the semifinals, finishing fourth.

On a rainy and windy morning with 11 degree celsius temperature, Jayanta braved the weather for a good start against the Italian, who was the 2004 Athens Olympic gold medallist.

The 24-year-old won the first two sets easily. The first being a perfect 10 (10-10-10), while in the second he shot 10-9-10 to take a 4-0 lead after two sets.

Galiazzo shot 9-9-9 against Talukdar's 7-9-10 to take the third set.

But Talukdar again came up with a strong performance in the fourth set to settle the issue 6-2 for the bronze medal.

In the match of the day, Talukdar earlier lost out to eventual gold medallist Brady Ellison of USA in the semifinals.

Talukdar faltered from a 5-1 lead as the American edged past the Indian 6-5.

Ellison beat Korean Dong-Hyun Im of Korea 6-5 in the final en route to the gold medal.

In the first round, Talukdar beat Michele Frangilli of Italy 6-4 for a place in the last four.