As the 2025 Hyundai Archery World Cup Finals circuit reaches its grand finale in Nanjing, China, the world’s top eight archers in each category prepare for the ultimate test of precision, composure, and consistency.
The event, now in its 19th edition, is the most exclusive on the World Archery calendar a showdown where only the season’s finest performers compete for glory, ranking points, and a share of the 28,000 CHF top prize. For India, the Finals carry historic weight. Three of its finest compound archers Jyothi Surekha Vennam, Madhura Dhamangaonkar, and Rishabh Yadav have earned their place among the world’s elite, underlining India’s growing stature in the compound discipline.
A Season’s Summit: The World Cup Final Format
Unlike the regular stages in Florida, Shanghai, Antalya, and Madrid, the Nanjing Finals are restricted to the top eight in each category: Compound Men, Compound Women, Recurve Men, and Recurve Women. Qualification comes either by winning a World Cup stage or through accumulated ranking points.
This structure ensures a unique competitive balance it rewards both sustained excellence and breakout performances. For India, that dual pathway proved decisive. Madhura Dhamangaonkar’s golden comeback in Shanghai and Jyothi Vennam’s consistent podium form secured two of the most coveted spots in the Women’s Compound bracket.
With the legendary Sara Lopez absent this season, the women’s draw is completely open — a new champion is guaranteed.
The Finals amplify everything: pressure, stakes, and reward.
While a regular World Cup stage win yields 3,500 CHF, the Nanjing title brings eight times that amount. Beyond finances, ranking points add weight to every arrow 25 for gold, 21 for silver, and 18 for bronze meaning a medal can redefine an athlete’s world standing.
For archers like Rishabh Yadav, currently World No. 4, even a podium finish in Nanjing could vault him into the top three globally.
Compound Women: India’s Dual Threat
The Women’s Compound event will open Saturday’s schedule in Nanjing, with quarterfinals beginning at 10:03 AM local time (7:33 AM IST). It’s a field defined by razor-thin margins the top seeds average between 9.74 and 9.77 points per arrow, meaning one stray millimeter could separate gold from elimination.
Jyothi Surekha Vennam: The Veteran Challenger
World No. 3 Jyothi Surekha Vennam, India’s most decorated compound archer, enters as one of the prime contenders. Her experience in high-pressure elimination formats including a 100% shoot-off win record gives her an edge. Vennam, a two-time Asian Games champion and a consistent World Cup medalist, faces Alexis Ruiz (USA) in the quarter-final. Both are nearly identical in average arrow performance (9.77 vs 9.74), but Vennam’s superior mental resilience and composure make her the favorite.
If victorious, she could meet Andrea Becerra (MEX) or Hazal Burun (TUR) in the semifinal, setting up one of the tournament’s most anticipated clashes.
Madhura Dhamangaonkar: The Comeback Story
Few stories in Indian archery rival Madhura Dhamangaonkar’s 2025 resurgence. After a three-year hiatus, she returned to international competition in stunning fashion winning gold at World Cup Stage 2 in Shanghai and securing automatic qualification for Nanjing. Her quarter-final opponent, Mariana Bernal (MEX), enters with momentum after beating teammate Andrea Becerra 147–142 to win her first international gold at Copa Merengue. But Dhamangaonkar, who edged a world-ranked opponent 139–138 in Shanghai, has proven she thrives in tight, high-stakes scenarios.
Her match, scheduled for 10:30 AM, is being dubbed the “momentum duel” a battle of breakthrough champions where psychological steadiness could trump ranking statistics.
Projected Path to Gold
If form holds, India could see both its women’s archers advance deep into the bracket.
•Vennam’s path: Ruiz (USA) → Becerra (MEX) → Gold Final
•Dhamangaonkar’s path: Bernal (MEX) → Gibson (GBR) → Gold Final
Vennam’s record under pressure and Dhamangaonkar’s fearless rhythm give India realistic chances of multiple medals.
Compound Men: Rishabh Yadav’s Big Stage
In the men’s division, World No. 4 Rishabh Yadav stands tall as India’s lone representative and one of its best hopes.
He begins his campaign at 2:00 PM local time (11:30 AM IST) against Kim Jongho (KOR), a rematch steeped in psychological subtext. The two last met in the World Games bronze medal match, where Yadav triumphed in a dramatic shoot-off after both scored 145. That victory, and Kim’s subsequent perfect team performance (240/240) in Shanghai, frame this as a clash between consistency and clutch mentality. Yadav’s edge lies in his composure the ability to stay centered when a single arrow decides fate.
“Rishabh’s shoot-off win against Kim at the World Games wasn’t luck it was intent,” a national coach observed. “He’s calm when others tense. That’s what sets him apart in knockout formats.”
The Titans Above: Schloesser vs. Fullerton Looms
While India’s focus is on Yadav’s campaign, global archery eyes are fixed on the potential gold-medal showdown between Mike Schloesser (NED) and Mathias Fullerton (DEN) the two top seeds in men’s compound archery.
Schloesser, the reigning World Games champion and double stage winner, brings unmatched precision, earning the nickname “Mister Perfect.” Fullerton, ranked World No. 1, has been equally consistent but carries a vulnerability a 33% tiebreak success rate, compared to Schloesser’s 67%.
If Yadav advances past Kim, he could face Fullerton in the semifinal a monumental test that could define his international standing. India’s representation in Nanjing three individual qualifiers across both compound events is a reflection of sustained growth and global credibility. From Vennam’s leadership to Dhamangaonkar’s resurgence and Yadav’s resilience, the trio symbolizes the evolution of India’s compound ecosystem structured, data-driven, and fearless on the world stage.
Schedule & Broadcast for Indian Viewers: Fans can stream the event live on Archery+ or watch on Sony Sports Ten 2 and Sony Sports Ten 2 HD.
Whether it’s Jyothi Surekha Vennam’s quest for another world medal, Madhura Dhamangaonkar’s golden resurgence, or Rishabh Yadav’s pursuit of consistency among legends, Nanjing promises to be more than a tournament it’s the defining chapter of India’s 2025 archery narrative.
For once, India enters not as an underdog but as a central force in compound archery’s global elite.
