India’s young archers kicked off their World University Games campaign in style, posting some eye-catching scores and setting themselves up perfectly for the knockout rounds.
From top spots in compound to steady performances in recurve, it’s been a day of promise, grit, and a few standout stars.
Let’s break down who shone, where India stands, and why fans should be excited for what’s next:
Compound Women: Parneet leads the charge!
Parneet Kaur was simply sensational, scoring a massive 701 to grab 1st place in the ranking round. Calm under pressure and clinical end after end, Parneet now heads into the eliminations as the archer to beat.
Backing her up, Madhura D fired in a strong 687 to finish 6th, while Avneet Kaur posted 673 to place 22nd. Together, the trio lifted the Indian women’s compound team to 2nd overall making them one of the favourites for team medals.
Compound Men: Kushal Dalal & Co. top the team table
On the men’s side, Kushal Dalal came so close to topping the field, shooting 706 and finishing 2nd overall. Sahil Rajesh added to India’s firepower with 699 (6th place), and Hritik Sharma chipped in with 694 (13th).
The result? The Indian compound men’s team secured 1st place an outstanding start that puts them straight into medal contention.
In the mixed team event, powered by Parneet and Kushal, India also finished 2nd a perfect platform for the knockouts.
Recurve Women: Steady & balanced
Basanti Mahato led India’s recurve women with 647 to finish 13th, closely followed by Bhajan Kaur (642, 21st) and Aditi Jaiswal (637, 24th). The trio combined to place the Indian recurve women’s team 5th, staying well inside the top bracket and ensuring a good knockout path.
The recurve mixed team secured 9th, meaning they’ll face tougher early opposition but a strong run could still see them push for medals.
Recurve Men: Tough day, but still fighting
It wasn’t an easy ranking round for India’s recurve men. Aryan Rana finished 27th with 640, followed by Vishnu Choudhary (42nd, 627) and Mrinal Chauhan (47th, 622). The team ended up 12th — which means they’ll need to pull off upsets in the elimination rounds.
But the beauty of matchplay? Anything can happen on the day.
Why this matters: Big names, big potential
Parneet’s 701 (1st) and Kushal Dalal’s 706 (2nd) put them right at the top individually.
The compound men’s team is ranked 1st, and both the compound women’s team (2nd) and compound mixed team (2nd) look set for podium runs.
The recurve women’s team, ranked 5th, has the balance to spring surprises.
This strong start isn’t just about numbers it shows India’s depth, especially in compound, and the steady progress of the recurve squads.
What’s next? Knockouts!
The elimination rounds will test nerves and matchplay skill and that’s where big scores must turn into big wins. Can Parneet and Kushal convert their top seeds into medals? Will Madhura, Avneet, and the recurve teams punch above their ranking?
One thing’s certain: Indian archery fans have plenty to cheer for as the World University Games moves into its decisive phase.
Stay tuned the story is only just beginning. 🇮🇳🏹🔥
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