India delivered a commanding performance at the Archery World Cup Stage 2 in Shanghai, securing a total of seven medals, including two gold, one silver, and four bronze.
With medal winners across both compound and recurve events, and breakthrough performances by rising stars like Parth Salunkhe and Madhura Dhamangaonkar, the tournament proved to be a major milestone in India’s 2025 archery campaign.
Medal Summary
India’s medal tally from Shanghai:
- Gold
- Men’s Compound Team
- Madhura Dhamangaonkar (Women’s Compound Individual)
- Silver
- Women’s Compound Team
- Bronze
- Mixed Compound Team
- Rishabh Yadav (Men’s Compound Individual)
- Deepika Kumari (Women’s Recurve Individual)
- Parth Salunkhe (Men’s Recurve Individual)
Parth Salunkhe’s Heroic Run in Recurve
The standout performance came from Parth Salunkhe, who captured bronze in the men’s recurve after a dream run where he defeated multiple Olympic champions.
Ranked 60th after the qualification round with a score of 651-5x, Parth was not expected to be among the contenders. But what followed was one of the most memorable campaigns by an Indian recurve archer in recent years.
Parth began by defeating reigning Olympic champion Mete Gazoz of Turkey, winning 6-5 in a high-pressure shootout. He followed that up with a composed 6-2 victory over three-time Olympic champion Kim Je Deok of Korea in the quarterfinals.
In the semifinal, he faced the legendary Kim Woojin, a five-time Olympic medallist and a dominant force in world archery.
Salunkhe was 0-4 down but mounted a spirited comeback to level the match 4-4. However, Woojin’s experience showed in the final set as he edged the match 6-4.
Despite the loss, Parth bounced back to defeat Baptiste Addis (Paris Olympic silver medallist) 6-4 in the bronze medal match, sealing a historic podium finish — his first-ever World Cup medal.
Deepika Kumari Continues Her Medal-Winning Ways
Veteran Deepika Kumari added yet another accolade to her decorated career, securing her 33rd World Cup medal. She began her campaign strongly in the qualification round with a score of 655–7x, placing her 12th overall.
The Indian women’s recurve team, comprising Deepika, Ankita Bhakat, Anshika Kumari, and Simranjeet Kaur, qualified third as a team with a combined score of 1949–23x.
In the eliminations, Deepika defeated Li Jiaman (China) 6-2 to reach the semifinals. There, she faced Lim Si-Hyeon, the Paris Olympic gold medallist, and was overpowered 1-7.
But Deepika rebounded brilliantly in the bronze medal match, defeating Kang Chaeyoung, a Tokyo Olympic team gold medallist, by a score of 7-3. The set scores were [27-27, 28-27, 27-30, 30-29, 29-28], reflecting Deepika’s superior composure and accuracy under pressure.
This performance marks a crucial step in Deepika’s return to consistent international form and reinforces her position as a key leader in India’s Olympic preparations.
Dominance in Compound Events
India reaffirmed its global stature in compound archery by winning five medals in Shanghai, including both team and individual events.
Madhura Dhamangaonkar: Gold and World Cup Final Qualification
Madhura Dhamangaonkar was the star of the women’s compound division. In the semifinals, she edged out compatriot Jyothi Surekha Vennam 142-141 in a thrilling all-Indian battle.
In the final, she kept her nerve against Carson Krahe (USA), winning 139-138 to clinch the gold medal. With this, she also booked her spot at the Archery World Cup Final, an elite season-ending event.
Her qualification score of 704 placed her among the tournament’s top performers and established her as a serious contender on the international circuit.
Rishabh Yadav: Bronze in Men’s Compound
Rishabh Yadav earned a well-fought bronze in the men’s compound individual event. In the semifinals, he lost narrowly, but in the bronze medal match, he defeated Kim Jongho (Korea) in a dramatic shoot-off.
Both archers shot 145, and in the shoot-off, Rishabh shot a 10* against Kim’s 10 to claim the podium spot.
Men’s Compound Team: Gold with Consistent Brilliance
The men’s compound team of Ojas Deotale, Abhishek Verma, and Rishabh Yadav dominated throughout. They defeated Great Britain 239-232 in the quarterfinals and then edged Denmark 232-231 in the semifinals. In the gold medal match, they outscored Mexico 232-228, taking the top spot.
Their qualification score of 2134/2160 was the highest of the tournament, underscoring their dominance.
Women’s Compound Team: Silver Medal Finish
The women’s compound team, led by Madhura, Chikitha, and Jyothi, also enjoyed a strong campaign. They defeated Kazakhstan 232-229 in the quarterfinal and Great Britain 232-230 in the semifinal. In the final, they were overpowered by a strong Mexican team, settling for silver with a 222-234 result.
Despite the loss, the team’s consistency across matches and high scoring underlined their strength.
Mixed Compound Team: Bronze
The Indian mixed team, featuring Abhishek Verma and Madhura, qualified as the top seed with a score of 1422/1440. After a narrow semifinal loss, they returned to beat Malaysia 144-142, bringing home another bronze medal.
Recurve Team Rankings and Other Highlights
Men’s Recurve Ranking Round:
- Dhiraj Bommadevara led the way with a score of 677–15x, finishing 9th.
- Tarundeep Rai scored 666–6x (28th)
- Atanu Das scored 652–7x (57th)
- Parth Salunkhe had 651–5x (60th)
Their combined team score of 1995–28x gave them 7th place in the men’s team rankings.
Women’s Recurve Ranking Round:
- Deepika Kumari – 655–7x (12th)
- Ankita Bhakat – 652–14x (17th)
- Anshika Kumari – 642–2x (29th)
- Simranjeet Kaur – 637–8x (39th)
Team total: 1949–23x, placing them third overall.
Two Indian Semi-finalists in Each Division
India had two semifinalists each in recurve and compound individual events, a rare feat:
- Recurve: Deepika Kumari and Parth Salunkhe
- Compound: Madhura Dhamangaonkar and Rishabh Yadav
This reflects depth across formats and a successful transition from established names to emerging stars.
India’s seven-medal haul in Shanghai is a significant confidence booster as the team prepares for upcoming World Cup stages, the Asian Championships, and begins long-term planning for Los Angeles 2028. The emergence of athletes like Parth Salunkhe and Madhura Dhamangaonkar adds fresh momentum to a squad that already boasts experience and pedigree.
The mix of veteran brilliance from Deepika and new-gen breakthroughs across both recurve and compound events positions India as a major force heading into the latter half of the World Cup season.
