Indian archery has witnessed many memorable moments over the years, but Sharvari Shende’s dazzling run at the World Youth Archery Championships 2025 will be etched as one of the most remarkable breakthroughs for the country’s next generation.
Competing in the U18 Women’s Recurve category, the young Indian displayed nerves of steel, supreme consistency, and extraordinary self-belief to clinch the gold medal, defeating not one but two highly rated Korean opponents in the semifinal and final. For any archer, toppling South Korea on the global stage is a massive achievement given the nation’s dominance in world archery for decades. For a 16-year-old Indian to do it twice in consecutive knockout rounds, including in a nail-biting shoot-off in the final, is a landmark moment. Sharvari’s gold medal is not just a personal triumph but also a statement of intent from India’s youth system, showing that the gap with the world’s best is narrowing rapidly.
The Road to Gold: Sharvari’s Run
Sharvari’s campaign in the individual elimination rounds began steadily, with wins over opponents from Qatar, Ukraine, Indonesia, and the USA. But it was in the final two rounds, against Korea’s finest, that she truly announced herself on the world stage.
- Round of 1/24: Sharvari received a bye, before opening against Qatar’s Reem Khalid Y H Al-Saei. She was in complete command, cruising to a 6-0 win without dropping a set.
- Round of 1/16: Against Ukraine’s Yelyzaveta Semenova, Sharvari displayed focus, holding her nerve to close out a 6-4 victory.
- Pre-quarterfinal (1/8): Taking on Indonesia’s Najwa Shafira Nurin, the Indian was clinical, winning 7-3 with a series of strong 9s and 10s to keep her opponent under constant pressure.
- Quarterfinal (1/4): Against USA’s Ye-eun Whang, Sharvari kept up her momentum, once again prevailing 7-3. By now, her rhythm and control over her shooting sequence were evident—she was composed, unflustered, and consistent.
The stage was now set for the ultimate test: back-to-back clashes against archers from Korea, the sport’s powerhouse.
Semifinal: Beating Korea’s Minjeong Kim
In the semifinal, Sharvari faced Kim Minjeong, one of Korea’s top U18 recurve archers. For decades, Korean women’s recurve archers have dominated world and Olympic events, often sweeping podiums. This context made Sharvari’s challenge even more daunting. Yet, she rose spectacularly to the occasion. Shooting with remarkable precision, she outscored Minjeong 7-3, sealing her place in the gold medal match.
The victory was a huge confidence booster, as she had not only booked a medal but had also done so by overcoming the very nation considered unbeatable.
Final: A Shoot-Off Thriller Against Kim Yewon
The final brought another Korean challenge Kim Yewon. If the semifinal had been about composure, the final demanded resilience of the highest order. The match see-sawed throughout, with both archers trading sets. Neither allowed the other to pull away, and by the end of five sets, the score was locked at 5-5. This meant the gold medal would be decided by a single-arrow shoot-off. Such moments are the ultimate test of an archer’s nerve, as one arrow decides the champion. Sharvari stepped up first, releasing a superb shot into the 10-ring. Under immense pressure, Yewon could only manage a 9.
That single-point difference crowned Sharvari as the world champion in U18 women’s recurve, handing India one of its most memorable youth archery victories in history.
Sharvari’s triumph carries significance on multiple levels:
- Breaking Korea’s Hold: South Korea’s dominance in recurve archery has often left little room for others. For an Indian teenager to beat two Koreans back-to-back in semifinals and finals is both rare and inspirational.
- Rising Indian Talent: Over the last decade, India has produced world-class compound archers like Jyothi Surekha Vennam, but in Olympic recurve, consistent global success has been elusive. Sharvari’s win shows that the next generation is capable of changing that narrative.
- Mental Toughness: Winning in a shoot-off against a Korean opponent demonstrates immense mental fortitude. For young athletes, handling pressure at this level is as important as technical skill. Sharvari proved she has both.
- Boost for Women’s Archery: With Indian women archers like Deepika Kumari paving the way in recent years, Sharvari’s gold signals that the pipeline of talent remains strong and that future Olympic prospects are bright.
Sharvari’s gold capped a strong outing for India at the World Youth Archery Championships. The Indian contingent showed depth across categories, with several archers progressing into later rounds in both recurve and compound events. However, it was Sharvari’s dazzling run that stood out as the highlight of the campaign.
India has often come close at youth level, but Sharvari’s performance demonstrates that Indian archery is not just producing finalists but champions.
At just 16, Sharvari Shende’s journey is only beginning. This gold medal places her firmly on the radar of Indian selectors and coaches as a future Olympic hopeful. With the Los Angeles 2028 Games only three years away, Sharvari now has a golden opportunity to transition from youth to senior level with confidence. Her immediate challenge will be to continue training at the highest intensity, compete regularly in senior-level events, and adapt to the increasing competition she will face.
If nurtured with the right support system, Sharvari could very well become a mainstay of the Indian recurve team in the years to come.
Sharvari Shende’s gold medal in U18 women’s recurve at the World Youth Archery Championships is a landmark moment for Indian sport. Her journey marked by steady early wins, a stunning semifinal triumph over Korea’s Kim Minjeong, and a nerve-shredding shoot-off victory over Kim Yewon in the final epitomizes resilience and belief.
By defeating Korea twice in the biggest matches, Sharvari has sent a strong message: India’s youth archers are ready to challenge the world’s best. Her victory not only inspires her peers but also reignites hope for India’s long-term Olympic ambitions in recurve archery. In a sport where one arrow often makes the difference, Sharvari Shende proved that with skill, patience, and unyielding nerves, even the mightiest can be toppled.
