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Archery: Team GB's Amy Oliver stuns world number one before crashing out at Lord's

 

Rory Dollard
Wednesday 01 August 2012 12:58 BST
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August 1, 2012: Team GB's Amy Oliver takes part in events at Lord's
August 1, 2012: Team GB's Amy Oliver takes part in events at Lord's (GETTY IMAGES)

Rotherham archer Amy Oliver marked Yorkshire Day with the best win of her career to defeat world number one Deepika Kumari before exiting the women's competition in the second round.

Oliver, 25, had technical problems in last week's ranking round, leaving her 57th in the draw and up against one of the tournament favourites in the first elimination.

But she pulled off a massive upset in front of a sold-out Lord's to see off Kumari 6-2, closing out the match with back-to-back 10s.

She declared the result - which included three maximums and just two shots outside the gold rings - the pinnacle of her sporting life but was unable to follow it up in the last 32 as an erratic first six arrows put her on course for a 7-1 defeat by Ika Yuliana Rochmawati.

While that result may have been a disappointment, Oliver leaves her first Olympic Games with a memory to cherish.

"I'd say at this moment in time that (beating Kumari) is the highlight of my career," she told Press Association Sport.

"I've won medals in other competitions before but this was better. There were so many people in the crowd and it was really nice to have all that support. I've never had that before."

Oliver was unaware her achievement came on the annual celebration of her home county, but was happy to dedicate it to the cause.

"I didn't know it was Yorkshire Day until now, that's brilliant!," she added. "I did see a Yorkshire Rose in the crowd, though, so I knew they must have come from there."

Oliver's exit ended Team GB's interest in the women's draw.

Like Oliver, Naomi Folkard fell in the last 32 yesterday, while six-time Olympian Alison Williamson lost her first elimination match.

Despite no medal challenges, Oliver is already hooked on the Games and is already looking forward to Rio in four years' time.

Asked about her first Olympic experience, she said: "It's addictive and I want to do it again.

"Hopefully I'll be back in four years."

PA

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