The Archery World Cup 2025 season began on a high note for the Indian team as they returned from Florida with an impressive haul of four medals — one gold, one silver, and two bronze — finishing 4th in the overall medal standings.
With several top nations fielding strong line-ups and South Korea notably opting out, India made the most of the opportunity to assert their presence across both compound and recurve categories.
Gold in Compound Mixed Team: Jyothi & Rishabh Shine Bright
India’s standout performance came in the Compound Mixed Team event where the experienced Jyothi Surekha Vennam paired up with Rishabh Yadav to clinch the gold medal. The Indian duo showed incredible composure in the final, coming from behind to edge past Chinese Taipei 153-152 in a thrilling contest.
Trailing 114-115 after three ends, Jyothi and Rishabh shot a near-perfect final round to snatch the lead and secure India’s first gold of the tournament.
Jyothi, already an established name in world compound archery, led from the front, while Rishabh proved he belongs at the elite level. The win not only underlined India’s strength in the compound format but also showcased the potential of new partnerships heading into the rest of the season.
Silver in Recurve Men’s Team: A Consistent Display
The Recurve Men’s Team also brought home silver after a series of confident performances through the elimination rounds. The Indian trio, showing discipline and focus, reached the final but fell just short of the top spot.
Despite the loss, the silver medal marks an encouraging sign of resurgence in the recurve team format for India — an area that has seen fluctuations in recent years.
The team’s chemistry and consistency bode well for upcoming events, especially with the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic cycle gaining momentum. Their ability to handle pressure and deliver key shots in crunch moments will be crucial going forward.
Bronze for Dhiraj Bommadevara: Grit and Growth
In the individual events, Dhiraj Bommadevara once again showed why he is India’s leading name in men’s recurve. After a tough semifinal loss, Dhiraj bounced back strongly in the bronze medal match, defeating Spain’s Andres Mediel in a tense encounter.
Coming from behind, he held his nerve in the final ends to secure his third individual World Cup medal, a remarkable feat for the 22-year-old.
Dhiraj’s journey has been one of steady progress, and his ability to consistently reach the medal rounds on the world stage reflects both mental toughness and technical refinement. His performance in Florida only adds to his growing stature in global archery.
Bronze in Compound Men’s Team: Reliable Contingent
India also picked up a bronze in the Compound Men’s Team category, continuing their tradition of strong showings in this discipline. The team performed steadily through the competition, earning a podium finish and contributing vital points to India’s overall medal tally.
However, there was disappointment in the Compound Individual category as Abhishek Verma, a veteran of the circuit, narrowly missed out on a medal. He lost the bronze medal match to his Taiwanese opponent 141-144, despite putting up a valiant effort. While the result was unfortunate, his experience remains vital for India’s compound setup.
India’s Medal Summary – Archery World Cup Stage 1 (Florida):
- Gold – Compound Mixed Team (Jyothi Surekha Vennam & Rishabh Yadav)
- Silver – Recurve Men’s Team
- Bronze – Compound Men’s Team
- Bronze – Recurve Individual (Dhiraj Bommadevara)
A Promising Start to 2025
India’s fourth-place finish in the overall standings may not reflect the full impact of their performances, but the medal count and the composure shown by several archers speak volumes.
With South Korea not participating in Florida, the door opened slightly — and the Indian contingent stepped up, especially in compound events where they continue to be among the best in the world.
The emergence of fresh combinations, the consistency of experienced campaigners like Jyothi and Dhiraj, and a reinvigorated recurve men’s team all point to a strong foundation for the rest of the 2025 season.
As the World Cup progresses to its next stages, the focus will shift to sustaining this momentum and fine-tuning for the bigger picture — including qualification pathways and preparation for the 2026 Asian Games and eventually Los Angeles 2028.
For now, India can celebrate a solid opening act on the World Cup stage.
