Indian archery celebrated one of its most significant victories in nearly two decades as the men’s recurve team of Atanu Das, Rahul Pawariya and Yashdeep Bhoge clinched the gold medal at the Asian Archery Championships 2025 in Dhaka, defeating South Korea 5–4 in a nerve-shredding final.
For a discipline long dominated by the Korean system, this victory is more than a title it is a landmark shift. India last won this crown in 2007, and since then, South Korea had maintained an unbroken streak of triumphs in men’s recurve team events at the Asian Championships whenever they participated. To break that run required precision, composure and belief and India delivered all three when it mattered most.
A Run to the Final Built on Control and Consistency
India entered the elimination rounds as a well-formed unit, balancing Atanu’s experience with the youthful confidence of Rahul Pawariya and the rising form of Yashdeep Bhoge. The trio had shown glimpses of this cohesion over the past year, but in Dhaka, their rhythm came together decisively. Their run began with a comfortable outing in the 1/8 round, where India swept past Turkmenistan with a controlled 6–2 verdict. The Indians looked settled, using the match to read conditions and sharpen their coordination particularly with the swirling afternoon breeze that played a role throughout the event.
In the quarterfinal, India met Malaysia, a team known for producing moments of brilliance. But the Indian archers held firm, taking the match 6–0 again. Their set scores 55, 56, 59 underlined an upward trajectory. The groupings tightened, the timing improved, and the confidence visibly grew.
The semifinal against Kazakhstan, however, was India’s first real test. Kazakhstan pushed hard, but India edged through 5–3, delivering clutch 10s in the final set. The calmness with which they executed under pressure foreshadowed what was to come in the final.
The Final: India vs. South Korea A Rivalry Reawakened
South Korea’s pedigree in recurve archery is unmatched. Since 2013, they had not lost a men’s team event at the Asian Championships where they fielded a full-strength lineup. Such dominance often carries an aura, and India had felt the weight of that in past finals.
But on this November morning in Dhaka, the Indian team stepped onto the field with clarity of purpose. Unlike previous meetings, they never allowed the Koreans to dictate tempo or psychology.
Set 1 was tightly contested, ending 56–56. India’s arrow sequence was disciplined, and Pawariya’s opening 10 set the tone. Korea matched them shot for shot, but India walked off the line with no nerves and no errors.
In Set 2, it was again 56-56 for both the teams
Set 3 was crucial. India hit a low 51, while Korea’s 57 in a display of pure resilience.
At 2-4 heading into Set 4, the final hinged on Indian ability to make a comeback.
India delivered.
A superb set score of 57 powered by back-to-back 10s from Atanu and Rahul pushed India ahead. Korea, for the first time in the match, showed cracks. Their 53 was far below their usual standards, and India seized the opportunity to take the set and tie 4-4
India’s shoot-off response was where champions are made.
Bhoge opened with a steady 10. Atanu followed with a 10. And then came Rahul Pawariya the youngest and least experienced of the trio who delivered a 9, but it was Atanu who then got a 10 when it was most required. The arrow was decisive and symbolic: the next generation of Indian recurve archery taking its place on the big stage.
India took the shoot-off 5–4, ending 18-year wait and reclaiming a crown.
A Victory of Technical Growth and Mental Maturity
This triumph reflects more than a good day on the shooting line. It highlights India’s steady improvement in team synergy, shot timing, and high-pressure execution. Yashdeep Bhoge’s role as anchor was particularly significant his average of 9.44 was among the highest on the field. Atanu Das, the most seasoned archer, offered calm precision and match temperament. Rahul, the emerging talent, showed the mental toughness that elite archery demands.
Together, they broke what many considered an unbreakable wall in Asian recurve archery.
Why This Win Matters
- Ends Korea’s dominance The first time since 2007 that a team Team Indian won the Gold.
- A major confidence boost ahead of LA28 With less than three years until the Olympics, India have shown they can match the best.
- Validation of India’s recurve pipeline Performances by Bhoge and Pawariya show that depth is improving significantly.
- Historic significance An 18-year wait ends, marking one of Indian archery’s most important continental victories.
The 2025 Asian Archery Championships final will be remembered as the day India broke the Korean monopoly and announced themselves as serious contenders in world recurve archery. With this gold, Indian archery has a new benchmark, and more importantly, a renewed belief.
From 2007 to 2025, the wait was long.
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But when the moment came, India seized it with precision and with heart.
Asian Champions once again.
