India’s archery contingent showcased their prowess at the first leg of the Archery World Cup, securing a medal in the men’s recurve event and also making a mark in the women’s compound category.
Tarundeep Rai, Dheeraj Bommadewara, and Praveen Jadhav secured a spot in the men’s recurve final, guaranteeing India a medal. They are set to face off against the formidable Olympic champions from South Korea in the ultimate showdown. The Indian trio advanced to the final after defeating Italy with a commanding score of 5-1.
The South Korean team, comprising Tokyo Olympic gold medalists Kim Woojin, Lee Woo Seok, and Kim Ji Deok, presents a formidable challenge for the Indian archers. Notably, South Korea dispatched Chinese Taipei’s Tan Chih Chun, Lin Jih Siang, and Tai Yu Suan to secure their spot in the final.
In the compound category, former world champion Priyansh and Asian Games gold medalist Jyoti Surekha Vennam showcased their skill by reaching the individual semifinals. Priyansh emerged victorious over B Agaoglu of Turkey in a thrilling shoot-off, setting up a clash with American Nick Capers. Meanwhile, Jyoti Surekha Vennam overcame Avneet Kaur to secure her spot in the semifinals, where she will face Estonia’s Marie Marcia Paas.
The Indian women’s team faced a tough challenge against Mexico in the initial stages, ultimately falling short with a score of 3-5. Despite a valiant effort from Deepika Kumari, Ankita Bhagat, and Bhajan Kaur, they finished sixth in the qualifying round. Aditi Swamy, India’s reigning world champion, faced a setback against Mexico’s top seed Andrea Becerra.
While the journey ended for some Indian archers, with Abhishek Verma losing to France’s Jean-Philippe Bouch and Prathamesh F falling to Capers, the team’s overall performance has been commendable, reflecting India’s growing prowess in the sport on the international stage.
