Atanu Das had a standout performance at the 2019 Asian Archery Championships held in Bangkok, Thailand from 22-28 November 2019, where he bagged three bronze medals. This incredible achievement not only showcased his individual skill but also his ability to contribute to India’s success in both individual and team events. Here’s a closer look at his performances and contributions during the championship:
Achievement: Atanu Das clinched the bronze medal in the men’s recurve individual event. His strong performance in the individual category highlighted his technical precision and mental resilience.
Significance: Atanu’s ability to compete with top archers from countries like South Korea and China made this medal a significant milestone in his career. His performance also boosted India’s reputation in recurve archery, a discipline in which the country had previously struggled to break through at major international events.
Achievement: Atanu Das, alongside Deepika Kumari, claimed the bronze medal in the recurve mixed team event.
Significance: The mixed team event is an important competition in modern archery, requiring a strong partnership between male and female archers. Atanu and Deepika’s synergy was evident, as they showcased excellent teamwork and strategy to secure a spot on the podium.
Notable Aspect: Deepika Kumari and Atanu Das are among India’s top recurve archers, and their collaboration in the mixed team event underscored the growing strength of India’s archery scene in the recurve category.
Achievement: Atanu was also part of the men’s recurve team alongside Tarundeep Rai and Jayanta Talukdar, where the trio secured a bronze medal in the team recurve event.
Significance: This was a remarkable achievement for the Indian team, as they faced stiff competition from Asian archery powerhouses such as South Korea and China. Atanu’s performance in this team event contributed significantly to the overall success of the Indian team, highlighting the strength of Indian archery in team-based formats.
India had an outstanding medal haul at the 2019 Asian Archery Championships, finishing with one gold, two silver, and five bronze medals, making it one of India’s most successful outings in the history of the tournament.
Gold Medal: India’s women’s recurve team (Deepika Kumari, Laxmirani Majhi, Bombe La Devi Laishram) won the gold medal.
Silver Medals: The men’s recurve team (Tarundeep Rai, Atanu Das, Pravin Yadav) earned a silver, while the women’s compound team (V. Jyothi Surekha, Muskan Kirar, Raj Kaur) secured silver.
Bronze Medals: India won five bronze medals, with Atanu Das contributing three (in individual recurve, mixed team recurve, and team recurve events).
Versatility: Atanu’s ability to excel in both individual and team events underlines his versatility as an archer. His performances in both recurve individual and team events demonstrate his technical expertise, consistency, and adaptability across formats.
Consistency at International Competitions: His three bronze medals at the 2019 Asian Archery Championships reflected his growing consistency in international competitions. Atanu Das has established himself as one of India’s top archers, regularly competing and medaling at Asian and World Championship events.
Boost to India’s Archery Profile: Atanu’s performances were part of a larger Indian success story at the 2019 Asian Archery Championships, helping raise India’s profile on the global archery stage. His contributions played a key role in India’s growing reputation in recurve archery, traditionally a dominant discipline for countries like South Korea.
Olympic Preparations: The bronze medals won by Atanu Das in recurve events also served as crucial preparation and experience for India’s archery team in the lead-up to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, where Atanu was part of the Indian squad.
Atanu Das’s three bronze medals at the 2019 Asian Archery Championships were a testament to his skill, resilience, and contribution to Indian archery. These achievements, along with his consistent performances in other international tournaments, solidified his place as one of India’s top archers. His success in both individual and team events not only helped India secure a strong medal tally but also marked a new chapter in Indian archery, with promising prospects for future competitions, including the Olympics.
