Sahil Jadhav clinched his first Archery World Cup medal in Shanghai, winning bronze in the compound men’s event and delivering India’s opening medal of the tournament.
The 25-year-old from Maharashtra defeated Denmark’s veteran Martin Damsbo 147-144 in the bronze playoff, showcasing composure and precision under pressure.
Jadhav, reigning World University Games champion, made only his second World Cup appearance and produced a breakthrough run. He began by defeating India’s senior compound star Abhishek Verma, then overcame Germany’s Ruven Fluss, and edged past 2022 world champion Nico Wiener of Austria in a tense shoot-off. His semifinal clash against France’s world No. 3 Nicolas Girard ended in heartbreak, as Girard sealed a narrow one-point win despite Jadhav’s consistent shooting.
The bronze medal marks India’s only podium finish in the compound section, with other team entries bowing out early. India now looks to add medals in the recurve category, where the women’s team will compete for gold, and Simranjeet Kaur begins her semifinal campaign.
Jadhav’s performance highlights India’s rising talent in compound archery and strengthens hopes for future global success. His ability to recover from early setbacks and maintain accuracy against seasoned opponents reflects a promising trajectory for Indian archery.
