Essen, Germany – India has concluded its participation in the 32nd FISU Summer World University Games in 2025, securing a total of 12 medals. The contingent brought home two gold, five silver, and five bronze medals from the multi-sport event. While the performance saw notable achievements in key disciplines, the overall tally was lower than the nation’s best showing in previous editions.

Archery and Athletics Lead the Medal Charge

Archery and Athletics emerged as the standout disciplines for India, each contributing five medals to the total count.

In Archery, the nation celebrated two gold medals:

•  Sahil Rajesh Jadhav demonstrated exceptional skill to win gold in the Men’s Individual Compound event.
•  The formidable pair of Parneet Kaur and Kushal Dalal clinched another gold in the Mixed Team Compound competition.
•  Parneet Kaur also added a silver medal in her individual event and contributed to a bronze medal in the women’s team competition, showcasing her versatility.
• Athletics also proved fruitful for the Indian contingent:
•  Ankita Dhyani earned a silver medal in the Women’s 3000m Steeplechase.
•  Seema secured a silver medal in the Women’s 5000m.
•  Praveen Chithravel delivered a strong performance to claim a silver medal in the Men’s Triple Jump.
•  The men’s 4x100m relay team, comprising Animesh Kujur, Manikanta Hoblidhar, Lalu Prasad Bhoi, and Mrutyam Jayaram Dondapati, sprinted their way to a bronze medal.

Historic Medals in Tennis and Badminton

Beyond the two leading sports, India also achieved significant milestones in other disciplines. Vaishnavi Adkar made history in Tennis, becoming only the second Indian tennis player ever to secure a medal at the World University Games, bringing home a bronze in women’s singles.

The Badminton contingent also celebrated a historic moment, winning its first-ever medal in the competition’s history with a bronze in the mixed team event.

A Campaign Marred by Administrative Issues

Despite these individual and team successes, India’s overall medal count of 12 was notably lower than its best-ever performance of 26 medals (11 gold, five silver, and 10 bronze) from the previous edition held in Chengdu in 2023. The campaign was unfortunately impacted by administrative issues, which reportedly prevented some athletes from participating in their scheduled events. These concerns have prompted an inquiry by the Association of Indian Universities, aiming to address and prevent similar challenges in future international competitions.

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