Indian archer Sahil Jadhav secured the first Archery World Cup medal of his career after winning bronze in the men’s compound event at the Archery World Cup in Shanghai.
The 25-year-old defeated Denmark’s Martin Damsbo 147-144 in the bronze-medal match, producing a composed comeback after trailing early in the contest.
Jadhav lost the opening end 30-29 but responded brilliantly across the remaining rounds with steady, high-scoring shooting to secure a memorable podium finish. The medal marked one of India’s few bright moments in the compound category during the Shanghai leg of the World Cup.
Strong Run Before Semi-Final Exit
Before reaching the bronze-medal playoff, Jadhav impressed throughout the tournament with several notable victories. He defeated veteran Indian archer Abhishek Verma in an all-Indian clash before edging past 2021 world champion Nico Wiener in a dramatic shoot-off during the quarter-finals.
His campaign eventually ended in the semi-finals, where reigning world champion Nicolas Girard defeated him 147-145 in a tightly contested encounter.
Mixed Fortunes For India In Shanghai
India’s compound squad had entered the tournament with high expectations following strong performances earlier in the season. However, the team events proved disappointing this time.
The Indian men’s compound team narrowly missed out on a medal after losing a dramatic bronze-medal playoff to China in a shoot-off.
The women’s compound team, featuring stars like Jyothi Surekha Vennam and Aditi Swami, also suffered an early quarter-final exit despite arriving in Shanghai as strong medal contenders.
However, India enjoyed better success in the recurve category, where the women’s team stunned powerhouse South Korea to reach the final. Olympians Deepika Kumari and Ankita Bhakat, along with teenage sensation Kumkum Mohod, produced one of the tournament’s biggest upsets.
Growing Importance Of Compound Archery
The Shanghai event also highlighted India’s rising stature in compound archery ahead of the discipline’s Olympic debut at the 2028 Summer Olympics. India has emerged as one of the world’s strongest compound archery nations in recent years.
Jadhav’s breakthrough medal is expected to boost confidence further as India prepares for the remaining stages of the 2026 Archery World Cup season.
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