The Archery World Championships 2025 will be staged in Gwangju, South Korea, from September 5 to 12, and India enters the tournament with renewed ambition.
Armed with a squad that blends youthful promise with seasoned experience, the team aims to build on its historic success from the last edition. The 2023 World Championships in Berlin marked a watershed moment for Indian archery. For the first time in history, India topped the medal table, driven largely by its compound contingent. Ojas Deotale and Aditi Swami captured gold in the men’s and women’s individual compound events, respectively. Jyothi Surekha Vennam secured an individual bronze, and the women’s compound team added another gold.
It was India’s best-ever performance on the world stage. Until Berlin, the country had won only 15 medals in the previous 52 editions, with just three golds to its name. Ironically, both of India’s reigning world champions Ojas and Aditi failed to finish inside the top three at the national trials earlier this year, meaning they will miss out on Gwangju. Their absence highlights both the depth of talent in the squad and the high standards of India’s selection process.
Compound Archery: India’s Strongest Pillar
If there is one area where India has consistently delivered, it is in compound archery. Since 2015, India has won at least one medal in this category at every World Championship. The women’s team, in particular, has maintained a podium streak since 2017. At the heart of this success is Jyothi Surekha Vennam, who has been a near-permanent fixture in India’s medal runs. Her ability to deliver in pressure situations has made her the face of India’s compound dominance.
Spotlight on Jyothi Surekha Vennam
Jyothi arrives in Gwangju with eight World Championship medals already to her name:
- Individual: Bronze (2019, 2023), Silver (2021)
- Women’s Team: Gold (2023), Silver (2017, 2021), Bronze (2019)
- Mixed Team: Silver (2021)
Her track record underlines her consistency, but the individual gold remains missing. With her experience and current form, the Gwangju championship could be her best chance yet to complete her collection.
Deepika Kumari: The Quest Continues
In the recurve division, Deepika Kumari remains India’s most decorated name. For over a decade, she has carried Indian archery’s hopes with team and mixed-team medals, but an individual podium finish at the World Championships has always eluded her. Now back in the spotlight after regaining form, Deepika enters Gwangju seeking to fill that gap in her illustrious career. Her composure and experience could prove vital in guiding a young recurve squad.
A New Generation Steps Forward
The 2025 squad reflects India’s growing depth, with teenagers making the leap from junior to senior level:
- Recurve Women: Deepika Kumari, Ankita Bhakat, Gatha Khadke (15)
- Recurve Men: Dhiraj Bommadevara, Neeraj Chauhan, Rahul Singh
- Compound Men: Aman Saini, Prathmesh Fuge, Rishabh Yadav
- Compound Women: Jyothi Surekha Vennam, Parneet Kaur, Prithika Pradeep (18)
Among the debutants, Gatha Khadke and Prithika Pradeep stand out. Gatha, a bronze medalist at the Youth World Championships, and Prithika, who won two silvers at the same event, will both be tested against the world’s best in their very first senior outing. Facing South Korea in their own backyard a nation with a fearsome archery pedigree will be the ultimate trial by fire.
Historically, India’s performances in the recurve category have been modest. The men’s team first broke through with a silver in 2005, followed by another in 2019. The women’s team also secured silvers in 2011 and 2015. Yet, consistent podium finishes have remained elusive. The presence of Deepika, alongside rising stars like Dhiraj Bommadevara, gives India hope of breaking that pattern. Dhiraj, in particular, has shown promise with his ability to perform under pressure in international competitions.
The 2025 World Championships will not only test India’s medal prospects but also serve as a yardstick ahead of upcoming Olympic cycles. The blend of veterans like Jyothi and Deepika with youngsters such as Gatha and Prithika represents a balanced squad, one capable of springing surprises while laying the foundation for the future.
With Korea’s dominance in recurve and Europe’s strength in compound, India’s archers will need to be at their absolute best. Yet, the breakthrough in Berlin proved that India is no longer an outsider it is a team capable of leading the world.
India enters the Gwangju World Championships with cautious optimism. The absence of defending champions Ojas Deotale and Aditi Swami shifts the spotlight onto new names, while stalwarts like Jyothi Surekha Vennam and Deepika Kumari chase personal milestones. For the debutants, it is a priceless opportunity to gain experience and announce themselves on the global stage. The blend of youth and experience makes India a side to watch. Whether in compound, where medals are now expected, or in recurve, where history still awaits rewriting, the coming week promises to be a defining chapter in Indian archery.
