The 2025 season marked a watershed moment for Indian archery.
No longer a nation dependent on isolated individual brilliance, India emerged as a systemic global force, delivering results across World Championships, World Cups, Asian Championships, university competitions, and para-archery. What unfolded over the year was not a flash of form, but evidence of a maturing ecosystem built on planning, depth, and institutional clarity.
At the centre of this transformation was India’s historic performance at the World Archery Championships in Gwangju, where the men’s compound team claimed the country’s first-ever gold medal at the event. Rishabh Yadav, Aman Saini, and Prathamesh Fuge overturned deficits in multiple knockout rounds before edging France 235–233 in the final. The victory symbolised a psychological shift Indian archers holding their nerve under pressure, an area that had long been a weakness.
The compound mixed team silver, led by Rishabh Yadav and Jyothi Surekha Vennam, further reinforced India’s consistency at the highest level. However, the championships also highlighted a familiar contrast: while compound archery surged ahead, the recurve squad once again exited without medals, underlining the need for deeper structural reform in that discipline.
A major catalyst behind compound archery’s rise was the IOC’s confirmation of compound mixed team archery at LA 2028. The announcement triggered a swift institutional response, with the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) expanded to include elite compound specialists such as Ojas Deotale, Aditi Swami, Jyothi Surekha Vennam, and Abhishek Verma. The benchmarks average arrow scores nearing perfection signalled India’s shift toward Olympic-level precision as a baseline, not an aspiration.
This renewed focus translated seamlessly onto the World Cup circuit, where India collected 14 medals across four stages and the final. Shanghai proved the most productive stop, with multiple podium finishes and Madhura Dhamangaonkar emerging as a new individual gold medallist in women’s compound. The season also witnessed a landmark world record in Madrid, where Jyothi Surekha Vennam and Rishabh Yadav shattered the compound mixed team qualification record a significant marker with the Olympic mixed event now in focus.
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Perhaps the most emphatic statement came at the Asian Archery Championships in Dhaka, where India topped the medal table with 10 medals, finishing ahead of South Korea. The recurve contingent, often overshadowed globally, delivered historic results. Ankita Bhakat stunned Olympic silver medallist Nam Suhyeon in the women’s final, while Dhiraj Bommadevara clinched gold in the men’s individual event. The men’s recurve team ending Korea’s long-standing dominance further reflected India’s growing competitive confidence.
Beyond senior competition, the FISU World University Games showcased the depth of India’s pipeline. Five medals, including golds in men’s compound individual and mixed team events, demonstrated how university and Khelo India pathways are feeding elite performance. Sahil Rajesh Jadhav’s gold and Parneet Kaur’s multiple podium finishes highlighted the next generation’s readiness for senior international demands.
No discussion of Indian archery in 2025 is complete without Sheetal Devi. Her gold at the World Para Archery Championships, achieved with remarkable composure and technical mastery, transcended para-sport boundaries. By later qualifying for an able-bodied international competition, Devi fundamentally challenged conventional definitions of sporting merit, becoming one of the most influential figures in Indian sport this year.
The launch of the Archery Premier League (APL) added another crucial layer to India’s evolution. By replicating pressure scenarios through shorter shot clocks and broadcast conditions, the league sharpened the mental edge of leading archers gains that were visibly reflected at the Asian Championships.
Taken together, 2025 stands as the most successful year in Indian archery’s history. World Championship gold, Asian dominance, record-breaking World Cup performances, and a broadened talent pipeline all point to a nation no longer chasing relevance but shaping global standards. The challenge now lies in sustaining this momentum, particularly in recurve archery, and converting systemic progress into Olympic success at Los Angeles 2028.
India has found its rhythm. The next task is ensuring every arrow counts when it matters most.
