As the 2025 Archery World Cup circuit kicks off post-Paris Olympics, India’s recurve archers delivered a mix of brilliance and heartbreak in the individual elimination rounds.
The standout performer was Dhiraj Bommadevara, who stormed into the semifinals with a series of mature, clutch performances.
Recurve Men – Dhiraj in a Zone of His Own
India’s Olympic sensation Dhiraj Bommadevara showed exactly why he’s the present and future of Indian men’s archery, advancing to the semifinals with four clinical wins.
- 1/32: Defeated Camerin Pickering (BER) 6-0
- 1/16: Beat Carlos Rojas (MEX) 7-1, showcasing technical dominance
- 1/8: In an all-Indian clash, Dhiraj overpowered Atanu Das 7-3, holding his nerve in high-pressure ends
- 1/4: Held off French veteran Thomas Chirault 6-4 in a gritty contest
Semifinal matchup: Dhiraj will face Florian Unruh (GER) — the world No. 2 and a seasoned medalist. It promises to be a test of temperament and shot-to-shot consistency.
Atanu Das also showed flashes of form, including a 6-0 win over Moritz Wieser (GER) and a strong 6-4 victory over Maximilian Weckmueller, before falling to Dhiraj.
Meanwhile, Tarundeep Rai, after edging Berkay Akkoyun (TUR) 6-5 in a shoot-off, fell in the next round to Matias Grande (MEX) 2-6. It was a reminder that while experience counts, precision under pressure remains king.
Recurve Women – Quarterfinal Blockade for Deepika
In the women’s section, three Indians reached the Round of 16, but none managed to make the semifinals.
Deepika Kumari
– Back on the circuit and in solid touch, she fought her way through:
- 1/32: Beat Ana Luiza (BRA) 6-0
- 1/16: Narrowly edged Yi-Ching Chiu (TPE) 6-4
- 1/8: Outlasted Dianda Choirunisa (INA) 6-4 in a tense finish
- 1/4: Lost to Casey Kaufhold (USA) 2-6 — the American archer shot with relentless accuracy
Deepika’s return to top-tier shooting is promising, but the quarterfinal loss underlines a recurring trend — India’s top female archers struggling to convert deep runs into medals.
Ankita Bhakat
– A strong start saw her:
- Cruise past Ka Man Lam (HKG) 6-0
- But then ran into a fired-up Ayu Dyasari (INA) in the 1/16, falling 2-6 despite a composed shooting rhythm.
Anshika Kumari
– Fought hard through:
- Wins over Simranjeet Kaur and Lucia Ibañez Romero, including a shoot-off win in the latter
- But fell short in the Round of 16 to Lucia Ibañez 5-6 (tiebreak)
Key Takeaways:
- Dhiraj Bommadevara’s Consistency: Four wins, minimal errors, and excellent groupings in wind-shifted conditions — Dhiraj is clearly India’s leading light in men’s recurve.
- All-Indian Knockouts: Atanu vs. Dhiraj clash was one of the tournament highlights, but it also meant one Indian had to bow out earlier than deserved.
- Women’s Squad Rebuilding? While Deepika and Ankita remain among the best, a younger face breaking through (like Anshika) and converting to the last four is the next big step.
- Match Management: Indian archers often start strong but face dips in decisive quarters or tiebreaks — something to address with mental conditioning and clutch-practice routines.
What’s Next:
- Dhiraj’s semifinal showdown with Florian Unruh will be watched keenly. A medal finish here would mark his second straight big tournament breakthrough after Paris.
- Focus now shifts to mixed and team finals — where India’s medal potential remains high.
