India enjoyed a landmark day in international archery as Dhiraj Bommadevara delivered the finest performance of his career by winning two gold medals at the Archery World Cup Stage 3 in Antalya, Türkiye. The Indian recurve archer not only captured his maiden individual World Cup title but also partnered Kumkum Mohod to defeat archery powerhouse South Korea in the mixed team final.
The double triumph marked a significant breakthrough for Dhiraj, who had previously won three individual World Cup bronze medals but had never reached the top of the podium. It also ended India’s five-year wait for a men’s individual recurve gold at the Archery World Cup.
Dhiraj Outclasses Olympic Medallist
In the men’s recurve final, Dhiraj produced a calm and clinical display to defeat Lee Woo-seok of South Korea, the Paris Olympic bronze medallist, by 7-3.
The Indian started aggressively by taking the opening two sets before sharing the third. Although Lee reduced the deficit by winning the fourth set, Dhiraj responded brilliantly under pressure, shooting a perfect final set to seal his first-ever individual World Cup gold.
The victory was one of the biggest of his career, especially considering he defeated one of the world’s top-ranked archers on the biggest stage.
Mixed Team Gold Against Olympic Champions
Earlier in the day, Dhiraj and 17-year-old Kumkum Mohod produced another sensational performance by defeating reigning Olympic champions South Korea 5-1 in the recurve mixed team final.
The Indian pair displayed remarkable consistency throughout the competition, beating Denmark (6-0), the United States (6-2), Germany (6-2), and finally overcoming the Korean duo to clinch the title. The victory highlighted India’s growing confidence in recurve archery against the sport’s most dominant nation.
A Historic Day for Indian Archery
Dhiraj’s golden double made him the standout performer of the tournament and helped India finish among the leading nations in Antalya. His success also reinforced India’s emergence as a serious contender in recurve archery ahead of upcoming international events.
For the 24-year-old Army archer, the achievement was the reward for years of perseverance and consistency on the global circuit.
Another Tough Night for Indian Men’s Hockey
While the archers celebrated in Türkiye, the Indian men’s hockey team endured another disappointing outing in the FIH Pro League. India suffered yet another defeat during the European leg of the competition, extending its inconsistent run.
The team created opportunities but failed to make them count, leaving it with more questions than answers as it prepares for the remaining fixtures of the tournament.
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