India’s medal tally at the 2025 World Games finally got underway, thanks to a composed and clinical performance by Rishabh Yadav in the men’s individual compound archery event.
The 10th-seeded Yadav defeated senior compatriot and multiple World Cup gold medalist Abhishek Verma 149–147 in a tense all-Indian bronze medal match to claim the country’s first medal of the Games and only the second archery medal in India’s World Games history. The victory not only secured India’s first podium at this edition but also marked its sixth overall medal at the World Games.
A Nerve-Wracking All-Indian Duel
The bronze medal match was a contest between youth and experience. Yadav, who has been steadily rising through the ranks in international compound archery, went head-to-head with Verma, one of India’s most decorated archers. In a match where precision mattered more than ever, Yadav held his composure, delivering near-perfect arrows under pressure to edge out his teammate by just two points.
The 149–147 scoreline reflected the fine margins at the elite level. Each end was fiercely contested, but Yadav’s consistency in the closing stages made the difference. For the 26-year-old archer from Haryana, the win was not only about personal achievement but also about carving a place in India’s archery history.
Path to the Podium
Yadav’s bronze medal run was the result of a string of strong performances. He began his knockout campaign in the Round of 16 with a 147–143 win over Guatemala’s Julio Barillas. In the quarterfinals, he held his nerve to beat Turkey’s Yagiz Sezgin 147–145.
His semifinal clash was against American Curtis Lee Broadnax, a match that could have gone either way. Yadav fought hard but narrowly lost 145–147, missing out on the gold medal match and setting up the bronze medal showdown with Verma.
Verma’s own journey had been equally impressive, with wins over Puerto Rico’s Jean Pizzaro (149–143) and the USA’s Sawyer Sullivan (148–145) before falling in the semifinals to world number one Mike Schloesser of the Netherlands 145–148.
Podium Finishers
The men’s individual compound podium reflected the dominance of archery’s biggest names. Schloesser, known as “Mister Perfect” for his incredible accuracy, claimed gold, while Broadnax took silver. Yadav joined them on the podium, proudly holding India’s flag high in Chengdu.
Men’s Compound Individual Final Standings:
Gold: Mike Schloesser (Netherlands)
Silver: Curtis Lee Broadnax (USA)
Bronze: Rishabh Yadav (India)
Mixed Team Disappointment
While Yadav’s bronze brought cheer, India’s campaign in the mixed compound event ended in disappointment. The duo of Abhishek Verma and Madhura Dhamangaonkar entered as favorites after topping the qualification round but suffered a shock first-round exit to South Korea’s Moon Yeeun and Lee Eunho. The Koreans edged the opening end 38–37 and then delivered a perfect 40 in the second end, while the Indians stumbled with a low 27, falling four points behind. Although the third end was tied 37–37 and India took the final end 40–39, the early deficit proved too much to overcome, resulting in a 151–154 loss.
The exit was particularly concerning given the small, eight-team draw where just two wins would have secured a medal. With the compound mixed team event set to make its Olympic debut at Los Angeles 2028, the early loss highlighted ongoing pressure-handling issues and tactical shortcomings against top-tier opposition.
India’s women’s individual compound archers also fell short of the podium. Parneet Kaur, seeded 12th, lost 140–145 to Colombia’s Alejandra Usquiano in the quarterfinals, while third seed Madhura Dhamangaonkar was beaten 145–149 by Estonia’s Lisell Jaatma. The results meant India’s hopes in women’s individual compound were extinguished earlier than expected. With no representation in the recurve category at the Games, Yadav’s bronze medal became the sole highlight for Indian archery in Chengdu.
Significance of the Medal
Yadav’s achievement carries more weight when placed in historical context. This is only India’s second-ever archery medal at the World Games, the first being a compound bronze won by Jyothi Surekha Vennam in 2013. It is also the sixth overall medal for the country across all editions of the Games. For Yadav, it’s a milestone that cements his growing reputation on the international stage. Beating a senior teammate like Verma, who has been India’s face in compound archery for nearly a decade, will give the youngster immense confidence heading into future competitions.
With the World Games acting as a showcase for sports not always in the Olympic spotlight, Yadav’s bronze serves as a reminder of India’s potential in compound archery, a discipline not yet part of the Olympic program but highly competitive globally. The mixed team’s struggles, however, signal areas that need urgent attention before Los Angeles 2028, where the compound mixed team event will make its Olympic debut. For now, though, Rishabh Yadav’s resilience, precision, and composure have given India a reason to celebrate in Chengdu.
In a Games where India’s medal count had been slow to get off the mark, Rishabh Yadav delivered when it mattered most. His bronze medal is not just a reward for his consistency and hard work but also a symbol of the promise and depth within India’s compound archery ranks. If nurtured well, performances like these could soon become the norm rather than the exception.
