Title favourite Deepika Kumari suffered an upset in the Senior Women's Recurve final of the National Ranking Finals, losing to Laxmirani Majhi here today.
Jharkhand's Kumari took the first set, but lost the second, third and fifth, with a tie in the fourth, as Majhi (RSPB) got the gold medal.
In the men's event, Atanu Das (PSPB) took first place comfortably over Mangal Singh Champia (RSPB) in the afternoon final.
The National Rankings Finals served as a test event for the upcoming South Asian Games and proceedings went smoothly over the two-day event. The competition was intense as 96 of the cream of India's archers took to the field in sunny, slightly windy conditions.
Satbir Kaur (RSPB) took the bronze medal in the women's senior recurve, with Atul Verma (SSCB) came third in the men's event.
Rajat Chauhan of Rajasthan, meanwhile, bagged the gold in the Senior Men's Compound event, followed by Abhishek Verma (Delhi) and Sarvesh Pareer (Rajasthan) in second and third places, respectively.
Swati Dudhwal (Rajasthan), Trisha Deb (Punjab) and P Lily Chanu (Manipur) came first, second and third, respectively, in the corresponding women's event.
The awards distribution ceremony followed the day's finals, with prizes (including cash awards) distributed to the top archers and coaches by Meghalaya State Olympic Association Working President John Kharshiing, South Asian Games (Shillong) CEO R K Sharma, SAG (Shillong) Joint CEO Freddy R Kharkongor, besides officials from the Archery Association of India, Archery Association of Meghalaya and Archery Association of Assam.
Tuesday and Wednesday will see selection trials at the same venue for the upcoming South Asian Games.
Youngster Chauhan, who's currently ahead of Verma in
world ranking, will get an able support from the senior pro as he too had a successful 2015 where he had won World Cup Stage 1 gold in Shanghai, World YOuth Championship gold in Wuxi, a silver in World Championship in Copenhagen.
"The rival nations are taking baby steps in compound section where we're already a force to reckon with. We should make a clean sweep with ease," the national coach said.
Tiwary however had a word of caution for his wards as the competition will be conducted inside a stadium so the wind flow maybe inconsistent.
"Wind may come from all the sides, it will be all about excelling in the conditions and yes the chill will have an effect too."
The women's compound section will have P Lily Chanu, V Jyothi Surekha, Swati Dudhwal and Purvasha Sudhir Shende.
Archery is one discipline where India have been ruling the roost since the sport made its debut in the 2006 South Asian Games in Colombo where they had won all the four gold medals on offer. In the last edition of the SA Games in Dhaka, they also reigned supreme with a medal haul of four gold, one silver, one bronze.
After being in the sidelines because of a shoulder injury, Tarundeep came back from a two year hiatus to win the individual gold, while Dola won in women's section.
