Favourite Tarundeep Rai of Army Sports Institute made an impressive start to his campaign in the first national Ranking Archery Circuit tournament (3rd Phase) by winning the opening Olympic round event.
Rai defeated Sivanath Nagesia of Indo-Tibet Border Police for the top spot and took his total points tally to 66 after the first of the three Olympic round events.
He had earlier scored 663 points out of a possible 720 to top the ranking event. He also earned two bonus points in the process.
Ved Kumar of ITBP finished third by getting the better of Kailash from Uttar Pradesh.
In the women's section, Sumangala of Uttar Pradesh won the first Olympic round by defeating C Swaro of Nagaland. Reena Kumari of Jharkhand finished third ahead of her state mate and Olympic qualifier Dola Banerjee
The winner of the three rounds will be given ranking points, which will be added to decide the eventual winner of the championship.
The third phase of the Archery Circuit is being organised to select the three men and women players who would represent India in the Athens Olympics next year.
