Bhubaneswar : India’s men’s compound archery team created history by winning their first-ever gold medal at the 2025 World Archery Championships held in Gwangju, South Korea. The trio of Rishabh Yadav, Aman Saini, and Prathamesh Fuge edged out the formidable French team in a thrilling final 235-233, marking a landmark achievement for Indian sport.
Trailing 57-59 after the first set, India bounced back with six perfect 10s in the second to level the match. With scores tied 176-176 going into the last round, the Indian team held their nerve as Fuge sealed the victory with a flawless final arrow. Coach Jiwanjot Singh Teja praised the trio’s “character and tactical adaptability,” which played a crucial role in this historic win. Rishabh Yadav highlighted the resilience of the team, saying, “When the match got close, the hope started to build up. Then it changed to: now it’s time, we have to get the gold.”
Earlier in the championships, Rishabh Yadav also won a silver medal alongside Jyothi Surekha Vennam in the mixed team event, narrowly losing to the Dutch champions. This dual success underscores India’s rapidly rising status in global compound archery, with hopes high for Olympic success as the compound discipline gains prominence.
This victory is a testament to India’s soaring standards in archery, fueled by the rise of strong domestic talent and strategic coaching. It’s a day that will inspire many young archers in India and place the nation firmly on the world archery map.
This historic gold win not only ends an eight-year medal drought for Indian men in compound archery at the world level but also signals a new dawn of Indian excellence on archery’s biggest stage .
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