The 21st NTPC Senior National Compound Archery Championship, held at the Hyderabad Public School from December 13 to 15, 2025, underlined just how far Indian compound archery has progressed not just in results, but in technical depth and competitive intensity.
Part of the larger National Archery Championships running from December 10 to 19, the compound events in Hyderabad delivered performances that routinely matched global elite standards, reaffirming India’s position as a world leader in the discipline.
At the centre of the championship were two familiar names: Ojas Pravin Deotale and Aditi Gopichand Swami. Both reigning individual World Champions from 2023, both representing Maharashtra, and both successfully defending their national titles in finals that demanded near-perfection. Their victories, however, were far from routine, shaped instead by intense pressure from experienced rivals and emerging challengers, reflecting the extraordinary depth now present in Indian compound archery.
The men’s individual final was a defining moment for the sport domestically. Deotale and Delhi’s Abhishek Verma produced flawless 150–150 scores over 15 arrows, a level of execution that represents absolute perfection in compound match play. With neither archer conceding a single point, the contest moved into a tiebreak.
Under extreme pressure, Deotale delivered a perfect 30 in the shoot-off, while Verma dropped two points, sealing the gold. That two Indian archers could simultaneously shoot perfect scores in a national final is a powerful indicator that domestic competition is now operating at a benchmark expected only at the very highest international level.
The bronze medal bout further highlighted this depth. Sahil Rajesh Jadhav of the Railways Sports Promotion Board (RSPB) posted a formidable 149 to defeat Mohit Dagar of Haryana. In many international competitions, a score of 149 would be enough to win gold. In Hyderabad, it was required just to stand on the podium, underlining how unforgiving the national stage has become.
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The women’s individual final told a slightly different story, but one equally important from a performance perspective. Aditi Swami edged Sakshi Chaudhary of Uttar Pradesh 146–145 in a contest defined by momentum shifts and psychological resilience. While the winning score was lower than the men’s final and even below the bronze-winning 148 posted by Madhura Dhamangaonkar, Aditi’s strength lay in her ability to manage pressure.
After seeing her early advantage reduced to a single point, she matched Sakshi arrow for arrow in the final end to close out the title. At championship level, that ability to defend a narrow lead is often as decisive as technical perfection .
Beyond individual brilliance, the championship highlighted the growing influence of institutional teams in Indian archery. The All India Police Sports Control Board (AIPSCB) claimed the women’s team gold with a score of 232, finishing ahead of Delhi and Maharashtra. Their success reinforced the value of stable employment structures that allow athletes to train and compete without financial uncertainty.
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Similarly, RSPB’s presence on the podium through Sahil Jadhav and Jasveer Kaur once again showcased the role of institutional backing in sustaining elite performance over long competitive cycles.
The men’s team event was decided on the finest of margins. Delhi, Maharashtra and Haryana all finished tied on 237 points, forcing the outcome to be settled on X-count. Delhi edged Maharashtra 30–29 to take gold, with Haryana claiming bronze. That three teams could end level on points illustrates how team success is now determined not just by accuracy, but by the ability to consistently hit the smallest central scoring zone. It is a reminder that in modern compound archery, precision within precision has become the true differentiator.
One of the most intriguing outcomes came in the mixed team event. Punjab’s pairing of Abhijot Singh and Avneet Kaur defeated the star-studded Maharashtra duo of Deotale and Swami 158–156 to claim gold. The result underlined an important strategic lesson: individual dominance does not automatically translate into mixed team success.
Synchronisation, rhythm and partnership dynamics play a decisive role, often outweighing raw individual pedigree. For India, this represents an area where targeted preparation could yield significant gains at international championships.
Collectively, the Hyderabad Nationals served as a validation of India’s high-performance pathway in compound archery. Centralised elite coaching for both Deotale and Swami has created technical consistency at the top end, while institutional and state systems have expanded the competitive base beneath them. The emergence of regions like Ladakh, which qualified for the National Games after a credible showing, further points to a widening national footprint.
The broader takeaway from Hyderabad is clear. Indian compound archery is no longer built around isolated stars, but around a dense ecosystem of world-class execution, relentless domestic competition and structural support.
When national finals require perfect scores just to force a tiebreak, the pathway to global medals becomes not just aspirational, but sustainable.
