After an entertaining round of men's football, it is over to the archers as the Rio Olympics 2016 events rolls on, on Friday. Even if Neymar and co. failed to impress, there were plenty of goals on Thursday for the crowds to enjoy. Now, it will be the turn of one of the most ancient sports in the world to grab the spotlight.
The archery events will kick off with both the men's and women's individual and team ranking rounds. Archery is one of India's best chances at a medal(s), and getting off to a smooth start will be essential.
Archery at the Rio Olympics 2016 will be started by the men, with both the individual and team ranking rounds coming into play.
There is only one Indian in the men's individual event, and there will be a lot of pressure on Atanu Das to perform, considering he is carrying the weight of his country on his shoulders, as far as the men's event is concerned. There will be no India men's team, after they failed to qualify for the Olympics.
It is the women's team who are the real hopes for a medal, though. Coming off a disappointing showing in the London Olympics, when they went out in the first round, after many expected them to finish on the podium, the women's team, ranked No.4 in the world and led by the talented Deepika Kumari, again, will be determined to fashion a better result this time.
Three Indians – Deepika, Bombayla Devi Laishram and Laxmirani Majhi – will compete in the individual event, while the trio will hope for a perfect outing in the team section as well. There was a lot of pressure on Deepika to perform in London four years ago, but after being blown away by the winds, this Rio Olympics is redemption time for the 22-year-old.
Rio Olympics 2016 schedule: August 5.
Archery: Men's individual ranking round: 9 a.m. local time, 1 p.m. BST, 5.30 p.m. IST at Sambodromo, Rio de Janeiro.
Men's team ranking round: 9 a.m. local time, 1 p.m. BST, 5.30 p.m. IST at Sambodromo, Rio de Janeiro.
Women's individual ranking round: 1 p.m. local time, 5 p.m. BST, 9.30 p.m. IST at Sambodromo, Rio de Janeiro.
Women's team ranking round: 1 p.m. local time, 5 p.m. BST, 9.30 p.m. IST at Sambodromo, Rio de Janeiro.
