Dhiraj Bommadevara breaks Asian Games record, tops recurve archery qualification
Synopsis
Dhiraj Bommadevara didn't just qualify — he rewrote the record books. His 698 out of 720 in Okazaki obliterated the previous Asian Games recurve record of 690, earning India the top individual seed. Add Chikitha Taniparthi's near-record 705 in the women's compound, and India's archery contingent has served early notice at the Asian Games.
Key Takeaways
Dhiraj Bommadevara scored 698/720 to break the Asian Games recurve individual record of 690 , previously held by South Korea's Lee Woo .
Bommadevara is seeded first in the individual draw, earning a bye into the second round.
India's men's team ( Bommadevara, Neeraj Chauhan, Sanjay Yashdeep Bhoge ) qualified second with 2,039 points , behind Korea's 2,064 .
Chikitha Taniparthi topped the women's compound qualification with 705/720 , one point shy of the Asian Games record.
India's women's team also finished second with 2,099 points , level with China but behind on countback.
Dhiraj Bommadevara shattered the Asian Games record in recurve individual archery on Saturday, 26 September, finishing atop the qualification standings at the Okazaki Chuo Sogo Park Multipurpose Square in Okazaki, Japan. The Indian archer posted a score of 698 out of 720, claiming the top seed heading into the individual elimination rounds.
A Record-Breaking Performance
Bommadevara's total of 698 eclipsed the previous Asiad record of 690 points held by South Korea's Lee Woo. He was consistent throughout, scoring 348 out of 360 in the first half before raising his game further in the second — tallying 350 from the final 36 arrows and dropping only 10 points across the entire qualification round. His top seeding earns him a direct bye into the second round of the 32-team individual draw.
India's Team Qualification
Alongside Bommadevara, Neeraj Chauhan and Sanjay Yashdeep Bhoge rounded out the Indian men's recurve team. Chauhan finished 20th with 676 points, while Bhoge placed 25th with 665 points. Together, the trio combined for 2,039 points as a team, securing the second seed behind Korea, who led with 2,064 points. The second-place team finish grants India a bye directly into the pre-quarterfinals of the team event.
Women's Event: Taniparthi Goes Close to Another Record
Chikitha Taniparthi delivered an equally impressive outing in the women's individual compound event, topping the qualification standings with 705 out of 720. Her score came within a single point of the Asian Games record of 706, set by Chinese Taipei's Chen Yi-hsuan at the 2018 Games. Jyothi Surekha finished 13th with 699 points, and Prithika Pradeep was 20th with 695 points.
Indian Women Finish Second in Team Qualification
In a remarkably close team event, India's women combined for 2,099 points — identical in total to China's 2,099, but the tie was broken in China's favour on countback, with China taking first place. The Indian women's team nonetheless secured the second seed going into the team elimination rounds. The results position India's archery contingent strongly across both the men's and women's draws as the Games progress.
Point of View
In a discipline where South Korea has historically been untouchable, signals that Indian recurve archery is no longer content to be competitive; it wants to be dominant. Equally notable is Taniparthi's near-record in the compound event. India's archery programme has quietly matured over the last decade, but converting qualification form into medal-round performances has been the persistent gap. If Bommadevara carries this precision into the elimination rounds, a historic Asian Games gold is within reach — though the Korean machine, still leading the team standings, will test that resolve severely.
NationPress
26 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What Asian Games record did Dhiraj Bommadevara break?
Bommadevara scored 698 out of 720 in the recurve individual archery qualification at the 2026 Asian Games in Okazaki , surpassing the previous record of 690 set by South Korea's Lee Woo. The performance earned him the top seed in the individual draw.
How did India's men's team finish in the recurve team qualification?
India's men's recurve team — comprising Dhiraj Bommadevara , Neeraj Chauhan , and Sanjay Yashdeep Bhoge — finished second with 2,039 points , behind Korea's 2,064 . The second seed grants India a bye into the pre-quarterfinals of the team event.
How did Chikitha Taniparthi perform in the women's compound qualification?
Chikitha Taniparthi topped the women's compound individual qualification with 705 out of 720 , finishing just one point below the Asian Games record of 706 set by Chinese Taipei's Chen Yi-hsuan at the 2018 Games .
Why did India's women's team finish second despite matching China's score?
Both India and China scored 2,099 points in the women's compound team qualification, but the tie was broken on countback in China's favour. India's women are nonetheless seeded second heading into the team elimination rounds.
What does Bommadevara's top seeding mean for his campaign?
As the top seed in the recurve individual event, Dhiraj Bommadevara receives a bye directly into the second round of the 32-team draw , giving him a structural advantage in the elimination bracket at the 2026 Asian Games .
