India’s promising run in the compound archery circuit hit a disappointing note at Antalya World Cup Stage 3 in Turkey, as the contingent returned empty-handed from the final leg of the prestigious World Cup series.
Despite several high seeds and a history of strong performances in earlier stages, Indian archers failed to make the podium in any category this time around — individual, team, or mixed team.
Mixed Team Disappointment: Rishabh and Madhura Fall in Quarters
Hopes were pinned on the mixed compound team of Rishabh Yadav and Madhura Dhamangaonkar to deliver at least one medal to close out India’s campaign in Antalya. However, the Indian duo fell short in the quarterfinals, losing a tightly contested match to Estonia with a final score of 160-163. The narrow loss was symbolic of India’s overall showing in Antalya — competitive, but not clinical enough under pressure.
Estonia’s consistency across ends edged out the Indian pair, who were unable to replicate their earlier-season form. The defeat marked the end of India’s compound challenge in the tournament, with no archers reaching the medal matches.
Individual Setbacks: Madhura, Others Fall Short
In the women’s individual compound, Madhura Dhamangaonkar was seeded fourth and entered the competition with confidence, riding on her gold medal at Stage 2. But her campaign ended in the quarterfinals, where she lost 152-159 to Mexico’s Mariana Bernal, the fifth seed. Madhura struggled to maintain grouping in crucial ends, while Bernal capitalized with a flurry of 10s to pull away in the latter half.
None of the other Indian compound archers, including Jyothi Surekha Vennam and Chikitha Taniparthi, were able to advance into the semifinals either, marking a rare occasion where India did not feature in any of the final four individual matchups in either gender.
Bronze Slips Away in Women’s Team Event
One of the closest heartbreaks came in the women’s team bronze medal match, where the Indian trio of Madhura Dhamangaonkar, Jyothi Surekha Vennam, and Chikitha Taniparthi lost by a single point to the United States. The final score — 238-239 — underscored just how fine the margins were.
India had been solid through the rounds but couldn’t find enough 10s in the final end. The US team, maintaining composure under pressure, edged ahead at the last moment, denying India a second straight team medal after their silver at Stage 2.
Men’s Team Falter After Dominant Start
The men’s compound team of Abhishek Verma, Ojas Deotale, and Rishabh Yadav looked poised to continue their medal streak after claiming bronze at Stage 1 and gold at Stage 2. In the Antalya semifinal, they held a five-point lead heading into the final series against Chinese Taipei.
However, under immense pressure, the Indians posted four 9s, while Taipei fired an exceptional 63-point series — the highest possible is 60, with an 11 now counting as a perfect arrow. Taipei’s clutch finish stunned the Indian camp and left them out of medal contention in dramatic fashion.
Recap of India’s Compound Season Before Antalya
Despite the disappointment in Antalya, India’s compound archers have had a successful World Cup season overall:
🥉 Men’s Compound Individual
- Rishabh Yadav: Bronze (Stage 2)
🥇 Women’s Compound Individual
- Madhura Dhamangaonkar: Gold (Stage 2)
🥉🥇 Men’s Compound Team
- Bronze (Stage 1), Gold (Stage 2)
🥈 Women’s Compound Team
- Silver (Stage 2)
🥇🥉 Mixed Compound Team
- Gold (Stage 1), Bronze (Stage 2)
The performances in the first two legs showcased India’s depth in the compound category, with new names like Rishabh Yadav and Madhura stepping up alongside veterans like Abhishek Verma and Jyothi Surekha Vennam.
With the World Archery Championships and Asian Archery Championships on the horizon, the Antalya disappointment serves as a reminder that the top level remains fiercely competitive. Execution under pressure, especially in knockout matches, continues to be the difference-maker.
For India, the takeaway is clear: the talent pool is deep and the potential high, but consistency and composure in crunch moments will define whether they can convert World Cup dominance into World Championship glory.
As the compound team regroups, fans and coaches alike will hope that the lessons from Antalya fuel a strong finish to the season.
