Archery World Cup 2024: Indian men’s team upsets Olympic champion Korea to bag historic gold after 14 years

Indian compound archers had swept the team events winning men’s, women’s and mixed-team gold medals on Saturday before Jyothi Surekha Vennam clinched gold in the women’s compound individual section.

Men’s recurve archery team members Dhiraj Bommadevara (2nd from left), Tarundeep Rai (third from left) and Pravin Jadhav (extreme right) after reaching final of Archery World Cup Stage 1, in Shanghai. | Photo Credit: PTI

Indian recurve men’s team, comprising Tarundeep Rai, Dhiraj Bommadevara and Pravin Jadhav, upset top-ranked Korea for the first time ever to win the gold medal, while Deepika Kumari, returning to a global event after her motherhood in December 2022, took an individual silver in the Archery World Cup Stage-1 in Shanghai on Sunday.

Rai, Dhiraj and Jadhav defeated the Korea’s World and Asian Games champion team of Lee Wooseok and Olympic champions Kim Je Deok and Kim Woojin 5-1 (57-57, 57-55, 55-53) in the final to help India win the men’s team event in a World Cup stage after 14 years.

The achievement will boost the trio’s confidence ahead of the last Olympic qualifier in Antalya in June. It will also enhance India’s ranking points, placing it in a stronger position to qualify through the world rankings in case the team is not able to make it to Paris 2024 through the qualifier.

“Happy to have beaten a team comprising World and Olympic champions. We hope to carry this forward,” said Rai.

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The Olympic-qualified Dhiraj, who combined with Ankita Bhakat to bag the mixed team bronze by beating Mexico (Matias Grande, Alejandra Valencia) 6-0 (35-31, 38-35, 39-37), said, “We will win more medals and get stronger for the Olympics.”

Deepika, who had got past Korean Jeon Hunyong 6-4 in the quarterfinal, outclassed another Korean, debutant Nam Suhyeon, 6-0 (29-28, 29-27, 28-26) in the semifinals before falling to World and Asian Games champion Lim Sihyeon of the same country 6-0 (27-26, 29-27, 28-27) in the title clash.

Shooting without the assistance of a coach after India was penalised for a goof-up, Deepika shot a seven in the first set and an eight in the second to slip in the contest.

Nevertheless, Deepika’s silver will hold her in good stead in the run-up to the last Olympic qualifier..