Sports: Jhanu shine on the opening day

Kolkata, July 10 : Jhanu Hansdah brought smiles on the faces of the Indian contingent at the 44th World Archery Championship in an otherwise gloomy opening day at Leipzig in Germany.

The 27-year-old from Jamshedpur stood 22nd overall with a total of 1365 while two of her compatriots, Bheigyabati Chanu and Sumanlata Murmu were placed 52nd and 55th in a field of 73 compound archers, according to information received here.

The silver-lining was Jhanu's performance in the 60 meter event where she stood third overall on Sunday with a personal score of 347. The Indian National record stood at 345 in her name.

The threesome, apart from qualifying for the individual championship, also ensured India qualified for the team championship with a total of 4033 to be placed 14th in a field of 18. India will play third-ranked France in the first round of the team event.

Jhanu's individual opponent will be 43-ranked Dirma Miranda Dos Santosh of Brazil while Bheigyabati's first round rival will be 13th-ranked Hiroko Taniguchi of Japan. Sumanlata will take on 10th ranked Glayda Willems of Belgium, who is also the world record holder for 144 arrows at 1411 out of 1440 points. She set the record in May this year.

The three-member Indian men's team was a disappointed. India's No 1 Jayantilal Nanoma was 80th with 1332 points, while National champion Cherukuri Lenin stood 117th with 1292. The third Indian Chungda Sherpa finished 130th out of 139 archers in the men's compound.

In the individual elimination round, Nanoma will take on 49th-ranked Daniele Bauro of Italy while Lenin will meet 12th-ranked Reo Wilde of the US. India finished 34th out of 40 in the team event.

UNI