The Indian contingent at the Archery World Cup Stage 2 in Shanghai experienced a rollercoaster of results on Thursday.
While the men’s and women’s compound archery teams successfully secured spots in their respective finals, the country’s recurve archers faced tough challenges, failing to claim podium finishes.
The men’s recurve team, comprising Dhiraj Bommadevara, Atanu Das, and Tarundeep Rai, battled valiantly against the USA in the bronze-medal match but ultimately fell short, losing 3-5. Despite a spirited comeback in the third set, inconsistent performances under pressure proved costly. Their hopes were further diminished after a tight semifinal loss to France in a dramatic shoot-off.
Meanwhile, in the women’s category, Deepika Kumari, Ankita Bhakat, and Anshika Kumari suffered a surprising early exit. The team, ranked third after qualifications, was bested by Mexico in the pre-quarterfinals after a closely contested shoot-off.
While India’s recurve archers face an uphill climb in mastering high-pressure scenarios, the country’s compound archers continue to dominate on the world stage. Both the men’s and women’s compound teams have assured medals by advancing to the finals, where they will take on Mexico.
