Olympics-Archery-Power of love helps Indian Das defeat London champion Oh

Sports Tokyo 2020

By Ju-min Park

TOKYO (Reuters) - There are no spectators at Yumenoshima Park Archery Field due to COVID-19 restrictions but India’s Atanu Das is still enjoying the support of his number one fan: his wife -- fellow archer Deepika Kumari.

And that hard-core following certainly helped Das on Thursday as he defeated London Olympic champion Oh Jin-hyek from South Korea in the individual elimination rounds.

“Good job! Confidence!” Kumari yelled to her husband, a lone voice of support in the stand where a dozen Korean staff and team members tried to urge Oh to victory.

World number one Kumari is also a real medal prospect for India after advancing to the round of eight in the women’s individual event.

“I was hearing her the whole time, and she was pushing me up and telling me to believe in myself” Das told Reuters, showing off his two rings -- a wedding ring and an Olympic ring.

Das said he and Kumari, who married in a low-key ceremony in July last year, are staying in separate rooms in the Athletes’ Village but they train together and are with each other most of the time.

They did not team up for the mixed team competition, though, with Kumari and Pravin Jadhav losing to South Korea in the quarter-finals.

If they partnered up, Das said the two could have won.

“I expected the mixed team, but unfortunately...” he said.

Das will next meet Takaharu Furukawa of Japan on Saturday for a place in the quarter-finals of the individual competition.

“My message for India is please pray for us and please encourage us. We will try our best, and move ahead,” Das said.

(Reporting by Ju-min Park; Editing by Editing by Peter Rutherford)

Tokyo 2020 Olympics - Archery - Men's Individual - 1/16 Finals - Yumenoshima Archery Field, Tokyo, Japan - July 29, 2021. Atanu Das of India in action REUTERS/Clodagh Kilcoyne
Tokyo 2020 Olympics - Archery - Men’s Individual - 1/16 Finals - Yumenoshima Archery Field, Tokyo, Japan - July 29, 2021. Atanu Das of India in action REUTERS/Clodagh Kilcoyne

Atanu Das, Indian archer competing in Tokyo 2020 Olympics and husband of Deepika Kumari, a fellow archer who also competes in the Games, shows his wedding ring and his Olympic ring, in Tokyo, Japan July 29, 2021. REUTERS/Ju-min Park
Atanu Das, Indian archer competing in Tokyo 2020 Olympics and husband of Deepika Kumari, a fellow archer who also competes in the Games, shows his wedding ring and his Olympic ring, in Tokyo, Japan July 29, 2021. REUTERS/Ju-min Park

Atanu Das, Indian archer competing in Tokyo 2020 Olympics and husband of Deepika Kumari, a fellow archer who also competes in the Games, shows his wedding ring and his Olympic ring, in Tokyo, Japan July 29, 2021. REUTERS/Ju-min Park
Atanu Das, Indian archer competing in Tokyo 2020 Olympics and husband of Deepika Kumari, a fellow archer who also competes in the Games, shows his wedding ring and his Olympic ring, in Tokyo, Japan July 29, 2021. REUTERS/Ju-min Park

Jul 28, 2021; Tokyo, Japan; World #1 ranked Deepika Kumari (IND) competes against Jennifer Mucino-Fernandez (USA) in the 1/16 elimination round at Yumenoshima Archery Field. Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 28, 2021; Tokyo, Japan; World #1 ranked Deepika Kumari (IND) competes against Jennifer Mucino-Fernandez (USA) in the 1/16 elimination round at Yumenoshima Archery Field. Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports

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