World number two Deepika Kumari has failed to make the Indian squad for the upcoming Asian Games, suffering one of the biggest setbacks in her illustrious career.
Deepika lost two of her three round robin matches in the final leg to miss the Asian Games berth at the SAI centre in Sonipat, Haryana, on Sunday.
Deepika had finished a lowly fifth in the two-phase eliminations on Saturday to determine the top-eight, as she had to fight in the round robin matches.
The Asian Games will take place in Hangzhou from September 10-25.
This is for the first time since winning a gold medal at the New Delhi Commonwealth Games 2010, Deepika will be out of a multi-discipline showpiece event.
The 27-year-old has represented India at the Asian Games in 2010, 2014 and 2018, winning a team bronze in Guangzhou 12 years ago.
In her senior career since 2009, Deepika's trophy cabinet is full of World medals, but an Olympic podium finish has eluded the most decorated Indian archer.
Deepika has won 11 gold medals, 12 silver and seven bronze at the World Cup.
She is also a record four-time 'World Cup Final' runner-up and a bronze medallist. Deepika has also won two silver medals at the World Championships.
Tokyo Olympics last year was her best chance yet, when she went with the world No 1 tag for the second time (since London 2012) after winning five World Cup medals in the build-up.
But Korean rivals became her nemesis once again, as she capped quarterfinal exits in both mixed and individual events.
In the round robin phase, Deepika finished with one point to fall behind, as Ankita Bhakat (3.25) and Simranjeet Kaur (2) joined Haryana teenagar and reigning national champion Ridhi Phor.
The 17-year-old had already confirmed her berth along with veteran Services archer Tarundeep Rai by topping their respective elimination rounds.
The same team will also represent India in the first three phases of the World Cup beginning with the Stage 1 in Antalya in mid-April.
Preliminary India squad for three World Cups and Asiad
Men's recurve: Tarundeep Rai, Jayanta Talukdar, Neerja Chauhan and Sachin Gupta.
Women's recurve: Ridhi Phor, Komalika Bari, Ankita Bhakat and Simranjeet Kaur.
