In archery, potential has not matched performance for the Indians on the Olympic platform. The legendary Limba Ram narrowly missed out on a medal at the Barcelona Games in 1992.
In fact, no Indian archer has made the podium. The country's dream will once again lie on the shoulders of Deepika Kumari, who has so far failed to deliver when it mattered. Ranked world No. 1 in the lead-up to the London Olympics in 2012, Deepika crashed out in the first round. In Rio, she eased through the first two rounds, but a poor show in the round of 16 against Chinese Taipei's Tan Yating meant she returned empty-handed.
This time too she will enter the arena as the world's best after her superlative three gold-medal winning show at the World Cup Stage III event in Paris last month.
The more experienced and a mature Deepika remains a frontrunner for a medal in her third outing at the Olympics. India will fancy their chances in the mixed team event too, which is making its debut. A good qualification will see Deepika, who will team up with her husband Atanu in the event, avoid some potential strong rivals early. A string of four wins will fetch the duo a gold medal from there.
