In the final of the Archery World Cup, the men’s recurve team from India, consisting of Dhiraj Bommadevara, Tarundeep Rai, and Pravin Jadhav, achieved a historic victory over the reigning Olympic champions, South Korea.
This was India’s first victory over the powerful team in fourteen years. Their calm play paid off as they won 5-1 without dropping a set, increasing their prospects of qualifying for the Olympics in Paris. 40-year-old Army soldier Tarundeep Rai previously won gold at the Shanghai World Cup Stage 4 in 2010. With three 10s and two Xs, the team’s triumph over Kim Woojin, Kim Je Deok, and Lee Woo Seok of Korea demonstrated their strength.
The mixed team consisting of Ankita Bhakat and Dhiraj won bronze, extending India’s winning streak. In total, India won five gold, one silver, and one bronze medal at the first Stage 1 World Cup of the season. Deepika Kumari, a former world champion, also targeted a second medal in the women’s recurve individual semifinal.
India’s archery dominance was reaffirmed with the victory over Korea, as former Commonwealth Games gold medalist Rahul Banerjee highlighted the importance of the win and the necessity of keeping up the momentum heading into Paris.
