India is among 10 privileged countries to have earned full quota places for the Singapore 2010 Youth Olympic Games at Ogden (Utah) in the U.S. on July 17. The Games' qualifying tournament offered a maximum of two places, one each in men's and women's section, to each country. India's Atanu Das and Seema Verma stood second and 13th overall in their respective sections to earn India the quota places out of 17 spots available in each category.

India fielded all the six junior recurve archers - three in each group - in the qualifier. Recurve bow is the only recognised archery event in Olympics.

Quota places are allotted to countries and not to individual archers.

Out of 84 men and 61 women from 42 countries entered the fray, the three Indian men - Atanu Das, Pawan Xalxo and Hemanta Basumatary - did extraordinarily well. Das, who had to bow out in the quarterfinals of the Youth world meet on July 16, provided the silver-lining to India's Youth Olympic Games' campaign by moving into the final and ending second best. He lost to Korean Kim Woojin who led 28-24, 57-52, 85-80 and 114-109 to clinch the top place.

His compatriots, Xalxo was seventh and Basumatary finished 13th. This meant all the three Indians finished within 17, but as per the rule only one quota place was allotted to India.

Similarly, Seema Verma managed to occupy the 13th place. Her teammates Sumita Kumari (30th) and Balemai Hansda (49th) finished way behind.

Seema eliminated two higher ranked opponents in the first two rounds and moved into top 16 where she lost to end 13th overall. By then she had ensured a berth for India.

Only 10 countries, China, India, Japan, Korea, Mexico, The Netherlands, Poland, Russia, Chinese Taipei and Ukraine, managed to book full quota places. Seven more countries had one quota either in the men's or women's sections respectively.

The 11th Youth World Championship will resume after a day's break on July 18, the penultimate day, with team championship medal matches beginning with cadet group followed by junior section. India is in contention for three bronze medals in the cadet section.

July 19 will be the final day of competition. All the individual medal matches are scheduled for the day. Deepika Kumari (cadet women recurve) is in line for a gold medal and Sanjay Boro (cadet men recurve) is in contention for a bronze medal.