Indian archer Dhiraj Bommadevara scripted history by becoming the first Indian male recurve archer to win World Cup Final gold, defeating Japan’s Nakanishi Junya in a tense shoot‑off.
The 24‑year‑old twice came from behind to force a 5‑5 tie after five sets in the final. In the deciding arrow, Dhiraj delivered a perfect 10, while Nakanishi managed a 9, sealing the biggest triumph of his career.
The victory ended a 16‑year wait for an Indian male recurve archer to medal at the event, last achieved by Jayanta Talukdar’s bronze in 2010. It also marked India’s first gold in any category since Dola Banerjee’s 2007 women’s title, making Dhiraj only the second Indian ever to win a World Cup Final gold in recurve.
Dhiraj’s dominant run included straight‑set wins in the quarterfinal and semifinal against Olympic medallists, underscoring his rising stature in world archery. His 2026 season has already seen a breakthrough gold at Antalya, a mixed team gold with Kumkum Mohod, and earlier successes like the 2025 Asian Championships title.
Fresh from his Saltillo triumph, Dhiraj will head directly to Japan for the Asian Games starting September 26, where he will lead India’s recurve team against a formidable South Korean contingent featuring Olympic champions Kim Je‑deok, Kim Woo‑jin, and Lee Woo‑seok.
Political leaders and sports federations across India hailed the achievement as a milestone in Indian sporting history, boosting hopes for further glory at the Asian Games.
