The 2025 World Archery Championships in Gwangju, Korea, brought moments of brilliance, drama, and heartbreak for Indian compound archer Parneet Kaur.
The 19-year-old produced one of the finest individual campaigns by an Indian archer in recent years, defeating world-class opponents and showing nerves of steel, but ultimately fell agonisingly short of a podium finish. Parneet lost the bronze medal match 145-144 to Colombia’s seasoned campaigner Alejandra Usquiano, finishing a painful fourth. It was a result that summed up India’s mixed fortunes in compound archery this year—moments of brilliance overshadowed by near misses, as the country finished without an individual medal for only the second time since 2015.
Parneet began her World Championships campaign in the round of 1/48, facing Milica Petronijevic of Serbia. For many top archers, early rounds are about settling nerves and finding rhythm. Parneet did exactly that, shooting with confidence and accuracy to claim a 144-129 victory. It was a comprehensive win that set the tone for what was to follow. In the 1/24 elimination, Parneet faced a tougher test against Adriana Castillo of Mexico. The match went down to the wire, with both archers pushing each other across ends. Parneet’s consistency in the 10-ring made the difference as she scraped through 146-145. It was a narrow escape, but it also showcased her composure in pressure moments.
The 1/16 stage pitted her against Giulia Di Nardo of Italy. This was another tight contest, but Parneet produced big scores when it mattered, edging out her opponent 148-146. By this point, she had begun to show a pattern—finding ways to win close matches and holding her nerve when the margins were razor thin.
Upsetting the Heavyweights
Parneet’s most remarkable performances came as the field narrowed and the quality of opposition rose. In the 1/8 round, she faced World No. 2 Ella Gibson of Great Britain, one of the most consistent performers on the international circuit and a strong medal favorite. What followed was one of the shocks of the tournament. Parneet matched Gibson arrow for arrow, delivering a stellar performance that ended in her favor 148-146. This was not just an upset; it was a statement. Gibson, known for her precision and calm demeanor, had been undone by the unheralded Indian teenager. That victory announced Parneet to the global archery community in emphatic fashion.
If defeating Gibson wasn’t enough, Parneet’s next challenge was even more personal. In the quarterfinals, she was drawn against her senior compatriot and India’s most accomplished compound archer, Jyothi Surekha Vennam, the reigning World No. 3 and a former world champion.
The match between the two Indians was a high-quality thriller. Both archers pushed the scoring limits, but it was Parneet who emerged on top with a stunning 149-147 victory. It was her second consecutive win over a top-three ranked opponent, and perhaps the most satisfying of her career. By defeating Jyothi, Parneet secured her place in the semifinals, carrying India’s last hope for an individual medal in the women’s compound category.
Semifinal Setback
The semifinal, however, brought heartbreak. Facing Sofia Paiz of El Salvador, Parneet entered with momentum but appeared to falter under the weight of expectation. Paiz shot consistently, and although Parneet fought hard, she fell short by a single point, losing 143-142. It was a cruel defeat. After back-to-back victories against Gibson and Jyothi, Parneet had been within reach of the gold medal match. Instead, the loss pushed her into the bronze medal playoff, where she would face the vastly experienced Colombian, Alejandra Usquiano.
The Bronze Medal Match
If the semifinal was painful, the bronze medal match was devastating. Both Parneet and Usquiano shot brilliantly, trading high scores end after end. The contest remained evenly balanced throughout, each archer refusing to give the other an inch. As the match entered the final arrows, the tension was palpable. Every 10 mattered. Ultimately, it was Usquiano who edged ahead by the smallest possible margin, sealing the match 145-144.
For Parneet, the one-point loss meant a heartbreaking fourth-place finish. She had fought her way past giants of the sport, displayed remarkable composure for a teenager, but ended the tournament without the medal her performances deserved.
The result also marked a disappointing campaign for India in the individual compound events. In recent years, Indian compound archers had dominated global competitions, with names like Ojas Deotale, Abhishek Verma, and Jyothi Surekha Vennam regularly featuring on podiums. In fact, India entered this World Championships with two defending champions across categories.
But in Gwangju, the narrative shifted. All three Indian men exited in the quarterfinals, while the women’s side—despite Parneet’s heroics could not convert their promise into individual medals. The last time India failed to secure an individual medal in compound at the Worlds was back in 2015, making 2025 a significant setback. That said, India did not leave Korea empty-handed. The team events provided some solace, with India clinching a gold and a silver medal. Yet, compared to the expectations and recent history, the results represented a “massive downgrade.”
Lessons From Parneet’s Journey
Despite the heartbreak, Parneet’s run was filled with positives that Indian archery can build upon.
- Big-Match Temperament: Wins over World No. 2 Ella Gibson and World No. 3 Jyothi Vennam highlight her ability to rise to the occasion. Few archers can claim to have defeated two top-three opponents back-to-back in a World Championship knockout stage.
- Consistency in Scoring: Parneet’s scores—148, 149, and 148 in consecutive matches—show that she is capable of consistently hitting world-class numbers. Such scoring patterns are hallmarks of champions.
- Learning From Defeats: Both her semifinal and bronze medal matches were lost by a single point. These narrow defeats, while painful, are also valuable experiences. They underline the importance of mental strength in decisive moments.
Finishing fourth in any major tournament is often regarded as the toughest outcome in sport. Athletes miss out on medals by a whisker, leaving them with little to celebrate despite being among the top performers. For Parneet, the anguish was clear. She had battled through six intense rounds, outshot some of the best in the world, but walked away empty-handed. Fans and fellow athletes expressed their heartbreak on social media, but also celebrated her achievements. Many hailed her as the future of Indian compound archery, pointing out that at just 19, she had already proven herself against the world’s elite.
For Parneet, this is only the beginning. Her performance in Gwangju suggests that she is destined to be a cornerstone of India’s compound archery team for years to come. The upcoming World Cups, Asian Championships, and eventually the World Championships in 2027 will provide ample opportunities for her to convert near misses into podium finishes. For Indian archery as a whole, the results in Gwangju are a reminder that dominance cannot be taken for granted. Global competition is intensifying, and countries like Colombia, El Salvador, and Turkey are emerging as new forces. India must invest not only in technical training but also in mental conditioning to ensure its archers remain competitive under the highest pressure.
The 2025 World Archery Championships will be remembered as both a tale of heartbreak and a glimpse of hope for Indian compound archery. Parneet Kaur’s fourth-place finish may sting today, but her journey marked by upset wins over top-ranked opponents, high-scoring consistency, and fearless shooting signals the arrival of a new star on the international stage.
While India leaves Korea without an individual medal, the emergence of Parneet offers reassurance that the future remains bright. With experience and resilience, she could well transform this year’s heartbreak into glory in the years to come.
