World Archery Championships: Indian Women's Recurve Team Enters Bronze Medal Match; Men Bow Out

Last Updated:September 09, 2025, 15:20 IST

Deepika Kumari, Gatha Khadake and Ankita Bhakat will contest for women's recurve bronze in World Archery Championships.

Deepika Kumari led the women's charge in the recurve competition. (PTI Photo)

The women’s recurve team of Deepika Kumari, teenager Gatha Khadake, and Ankita Bhakat advanced to the bronze medal playoffs at the World Archery Championships in Gwangju, South Korea, on Tuesday. However, the men’s team suffered a surprising first-round exit, and the compound archers did not add to their tally of two medals.

The third-seeded Indian trio achieved consecutive victories before losing 2-6 to Japan in the semifinals. India will now compete against South Korea for the bronze, aiming for their first women’s team medal at the World Championships since 2015.

So far, India has secured two medals, both in the compound section: a historic men’s team gold and a mixed team silver for Rishabh Yadav and Jyothi Surekha Vennam.

Four-time Olympian and former world No.1 Deepika led the women’s charge in the recurve competition, finishing sixth in qualification with 677 points. Gatha, seeded 14th with 666, and Ankita, seeded 30th with 656, ensured India took third place in the team qualification, earning a direct entry into the second round.

The trio started strongly, defeating 10th seeds Slovenia 5-1, scoring 50, 55, and 55 against their opponents’ 48, 55, and 53. In the quarterfinals, they overcame an early setback against Turkey, losing the opening set 51-55 after a wayward seven. They bounced back with scores of 55 and a superb 57 to turn the match around, sealing it 6-2 with another 55.

Their successful run ended in the semifinals against Japan, who won 6-2. After a 56-all opener, Japan improved with a near-flawless 58 in the second set to lead 3-1. The third set was tied again at 56-all, leaving India with everything to play for. In the fourth set, the Japanese scored 54, while India faltered with a seven and an eight, totalling a poor 51. This handed Japan the set, the match, and a place in the final against Chinese Taipei, who shocked hosts South Korea in a shoot-off.

In contrast, the men’s recurve team had a disappointing outing. Seeded ninth, the trio of Neeraj Chauhan (670, 36th seed), Olympian Dhiraj Bommadevara (669, 39th), and Rahul (657, 62nd) suffered a shock first-round defeat to 24th seeds Denmark. The match went into a shoot-off, where India scored only 26 against Denmark’s 28, bowing out 4-5.

India’s challenge in the compound section also ended after veteran Jyothi, Parneet Kaur, and Prithika Pradeep failed to secure individual medals. The 20-year-old Parneet, the most impressive among them, finished fourth after losing the bronze playoff 144-145 to Colombia’s Alejandra Usquiano. Parneet had a slow start, unable to shoot a perfect 30 until the fourth end. Usquiano’s consistency saw her through. Earlier, Parneet defeated her senior teammate Jyothi 149-147 in the quarterfinals but lost a tight semifinal 142-143 to Sofia Paiz.

Twenty-nine-year-old Jyothi, a seven-time participant in the elite event, will be returning empty-handed for the first time since 2017. Meanwhile, 16-year-old Prithika Pradeep exited in the pre-quarters, losing 145-148 to Estonia’s Lisell Jaatma. India, who were defending the women’s individual title won by Aditi Swami in Berlin 2023, failed to repeat the feat. Aditi did not qualify from national trials this year.

Apart from the women’s recurve team bronze playoff, India will also pin hopes on the individual events and the recurve mixed team competition, where Deepika Kumari, seeded seventh, will partner Neeraj Chauhan. Making a comeback to the world championship after Den Bosch 2019, Deepika will also be eyeing her maiden individual medal at this event.

With PTI Inputs

Feroz Khan

Feroz Khan has been covering sports for over 12 years now and is currently working with Network18 as Principal Correspondent. He embarked on his journey in 2011 and has since acquired vast experience in digital...Read More

Feroz Khan has been covering sports for over 12 years now and is currently working with Network18 as Principal Correspondent. He embarked on his journey in 2011 and has since acquired vast experience in digital...

Read More

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