India continued its ascent in global compound archery with a stellar showing at the 2025 Hyundai Archery World Cup Stage 2 in Shanghai.
The Indian contingent returned home with a complete set of medals — a gold in men’s team, silver in women’s team, and bronze in the mixed team — underlining their growing dominance in the discipline.
Men’s Compound Team Seals Gold with Clinical Performance
The spotlight was firmly on the men’s compound team, where the Indian trio of Abhishek Verma, Ojas Pravin Deotale, and Rishabh Yadav, guided by coach Lokesh Kumar, delivered under pressure to clinch gold.
Facing a formidable Mexico side, the Indians maintained composure and consistency across all four ends to emerge victorious with a score of 232-228.
India opened strongly with 58 in the first end, followed by two successive 58s. The team then finished with another solid 58 in the final end, allowing no window for Mexico to mount a comeback.
The 4-point cushion was built on tight grouping and the ability to fire 10s under pressure, especially by the ever-reliable Ojas and experienced Abhishek.
This victory is yet another feather in the cap of the reigning World Champion Ojas Pravin Deotale, while Verma’s leadership continues to be instrumental in guiding India to podium finishes at major events.
Women’s Compound Team Settles for Silver in High-Scoring Final
In the women’s compound team final, India fielded the trio of Jyothi Surekha Vennam, Madhura Dhamangaonkar, and Chikitha Taniparthi, coached by Teja Jiwanjot Singh. They put up a strong challenge against Mexico, especially in the early stages.
However, the Mexican team of Andrea Becerra, Mariana Bernal, and Adriana Castillo was nearly flawless in the last two ends and pulled away with a 234-222 win.
India had opened with back-to-back 56s in the first two ends and were in contention at 112-117 midway. However, Mexico stepped up the intensity in the third end with a perfect 59, and India couldn’t match that output. Despite a clean 56 to close the match, the 12-point deficit from the final two ends proved too steep.
While a silver may feel bittersweet for this Indian trio, the performance nonetheless highlighted India’s depth and consistency in women’s compound archery. Jyothi’s anchoring role and Madhura’s solid scoring continued to be bright spots, while Chikitha, in only her second World Cup final, gained valuable experience.
Mixed Team Clinches Bronze in Thriller Against Malaysia
The Indian compound mixed team, featuring Abhishek Verma and Madhura Dhamangaonkar, added a bronze medal to the tally with a narrow 144-142 win over Malaysia’s Fatin Salleh and Mohd Juwaidi.
The match saw swings in momentum, with both teams producing high-quality shooting under pressure.
After a lukewarm start with just 35 in the first end, Verma and Madhura found their rhythm in the second and third ends, posting 37 and 39 respectively. The turning point came in the third end when India scored three 10s and an X, edging ahead by two points.
Malaysia mounted a strong finish with 36 in the final end, but India held their nerve to seal the match with a 33. The final tally of 144 was just enough to deny the Malaysians a podium finish.
This was a particularly satisfying result for Madhura, who walked away with both a team silver and mixed team bronze from Shanghai — proving her versatility and mettle at the elite level.
India’s Compound Program on the Rise
India’s medal haul at the 2025 World Cup Stage 2 in Shanghai reinforces the country’s growing prowess in compound archery. With medals across all team formats, the Indian archers showcased technical excellence, strategic shooting, and mental resilience.
Veterans like Abhishek Verma continue to be pivotal in team dynamics, while emerging talents like Chikitha and Rishabh are rapidly maturing on the global stage.
The consistent presence of India in compound finals over the past few years — from the World Championships to the World Cups — is a testament to the well-structured coaching and talent pipeline developed by the Archery Association of India.
The next challenge will be the 2025 Archery World Cup Stage 3, where India will look to build on this momentum and aim for more golds — especially with the World Cup Finals and the 2026 Asian Games looming on the horizon.
