India’s compound men’s archery team delivered a compelling performance on the first day of qualification at Stage 2 of the Archery World Cup, securing a coveted top-three seed ahead of the elimination rounds in Shanghai. India’s campaign was spearheaded by Ojas Pravin Deotale, the reigning World Archery Champion, whose precision and consistency set the tone for the team’s success.
Deotale was the standout Indian archer in the men’s compound qualification, posting 711 points to finish seventh overall in the individual rankings. His score not only reflected his elite form but also provided a solid foundation for India’s team seeding. Sahil Jadhav matched Deotale’s 711 points but was placed immediately behind him on countback, while Kushal Dalal rounded out the trio with an 18th-place finish. Their combined performance earned India the third seed in the men’s team event — a key advantage going into head-to-head matchplay.
Speaking after the qualification round, Deotale said, “Today was about rhythm and focus. We stuck to our routines, and that consistency shows in our results. The team is confident and ready for the knockout stages.”
While the men’s team grabbed headlines, Asian Games medallist Abhishek Verma experienced an off-day, scoring 705 points and finishing 25th, which saw him miss out on team selection for the matchplay rounds. However, he will still compete in the individual elimination bracket.
In the women’s compound section, former world champion Aditi Swami led the Indian charge with 700 points, securing 13th place in the qualifiers. Her efforts, supported by teammates Pragati (19th, 697 points) and Jyothi Surekha Vennam (21st), helped the Indian women’s team clinch the fifth seed for their team event.
The mixed team lineup, pairing Deotale and Swami, combined their individual scores to tally 1411 points, earning the sixth seed in the mixed compound event.
With seeding secured across men’s, women’s, and mixed compound categories, India enters the elimination rounds with strong medal prospects. The recurve qualifiers are scheduled to begin later this week
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