India’s women’s recurve team achieved a remarkable victory over China in a thrilling shoot-off to secure the gold medal at the Archery World Cup Stage 2 in Shanghai. Deepika Kumari, Ankita Bhakat, and Kumkum Mohod displayed composure in a tense final, prevailing over China 5-4 (28-26) in the shoot-off. This victory marked India’s first Archery World Cup gold since 2021.
The competition witnessed a back-and-forth battle as India initially led, only for China to stage a strong comeback, forcing a shoot-off after the regulation sets ended tied. Under immense pressure, the Indian archers delivered when it counted the most. Deepika Kumari, a seasoned archer, sealed the win with a crucial nine on the final arrow of the shoot-off.
Prior to this triumph, the Indian team caused a major upset by defeating South Korea, the 10-time Olympic champions, in the semifinals. This victory not only secured India’s second medal of the tournament but also boosted the country’s medal tally after Pravin Jadhav claimed a bronze in the compound individual event. Meanwhile, Simranjeet Kaur advanced to the recurve individual event semifinals, positioning herself for a shot at her maiden individual World Cup medal.
India’s success continued as Sahil Jadhav clinched a bronze in the men’s individual compound event, marking his first World Cup medal. The 25-year-old Indian athlete overcame Denmark’s Martin Damsbo 147-144 in the bronze medal match after a strong comeback from an initial set loss. Sahil’s journey featured notable victories against prominent archers, including the reigning world champion, showcasing his talent on the global stage.
