Dhiraj-Kumkum win recurve mixed team gold at Antalya Archery World Cup
Synopsis
India's Dhiraj Bommadevara and World Cup debutant Kumkum Mohod handed Olympic champions South Korea a 5-1 defeat in the recurve mixed team final at Antalya — a result that signals India is no longer just a contender in archery, but a genuine title threat on the world stage.
Key Takeaways
Dhiraj Bommadevara and Kumkum Mohod won the recurve mixed team gold at the Archery World Cup, Antalya on 14 June .
India defeated Olympic champions South Korea ( Oh Yejin and Kim Je Deok ) 5-1 in the final.
This was the first World Cup mixed team gold for both archers.
Kumkum Mohod was making her World Cup debut this season.
Dhiraj Bommadevara , ranked world No.
16 , finished the match with a perfect 10 on his last arrow.
AAI Secretary General Virendraa Sachdeva praised the win as a reflection of Indian archery's 'growing strength and world-class calibre.'
Dhiraj Bommadevara and Kumkum Mohod clinched the recurve mixed team gold medal at the Archery World Cup in Antalya on Sunday, 14 June, defeating Olympic champions South Korea in the final. The Indian pair beat Oh Yejin and Kim Je Deok 5-1 in a tightly contested summit clash, marking a landmark result for Indian archery on the global stage.
How the Final Unfolded
The contest was defined by narrow margins throughout, with both teams exchanging tight scores across sets. The Indian duo matched the Koreans arrow for arrow, holding their nerve at critical junctures to pull clear. Dhiraj capped the victory with a perfect 10 on his final arrow, underscoring the composure India brought to the match.
In terms of individual scoring, each archer recorded three 10s across the match. Kumkum added three 9s, while Dhiraj contributed two 9s and one 8 — a distribution that highlighted the balanced teamwork at the heart of India's gold-medal performance.
A Debut Season to Remember for Kumkum
Kumkum Mohod was making her World Cup debut this season, yet showed no signs of inexperience against one of the most decorated sides in world archery. Her ability to absorb pressure and deliver consistent scores alongside the more experienced Dhiraj was central to the result. This was the first World Cup mixed team gold for both archers.
What the AAI Said
Archery Association of India (AAI) Secretary General Virendraa Sachdeva congratulated the pair on social media platform X, describing the win as a statement of India's growing stature in world archery. 'India stands tall on the world stage once again! Congratulations to Dhiraj and Kumkum on winning the Recurve Mixed Team Gold at the Antalya World Cup. Defeating the Olympic champion in the final is a testament to their exceptional skill, composure and determination,' he wrote. Sachdeva further added: 'This remarkable achievement reflects the growing strength, resilience and world-class calibre of Indian archery. Wishing our archers continued success as they scale even greater heights on the global stage.'
Context and Significance
Dhiraj Bommadevara is currently ranked world No. 16 in recurve archery, making him India's highest-ranked recurve archer. South Korea entered the final as Olympic champions and heavy favourites, making the 5-1 scoreline all the more emphatic. Notably, this result continues a pattern of Indian archery punching above its weight at international competitions — a trend that has accelerated over recent seasons as investment in coaching and infrastructure has grown.
With the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics on the horizon, performances of this calibre will sharpen India's medal ambitions in a discipline where the country has historically come close but not yet broken through at the Games.
Point of View
And a 5-1 scoreline in a final is emphatic, not fortunate. What makes this result structurally significant is that Kumkum Mohod was on her World Cup debut: India did not need experience to win, it needed depth — and that depth is now visible. The real question is whether the ecosystem around Indian archery can convert World Cup momentum into Olympic medals, a conversion the sport has repeatedly failed to make despite flashes of brilliance at the non-Olympic circuit.
NationPress
12 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who are Dhiraj Bommadevara and Kumkum Mohod?
Dhiraj Bommadevara is India's highest-ranked recurve archer, currently placed at world No. 16. Kumkum Mohod is a rising recurve archer who made her Archery World Cup debut this season, partnering Dhiraj to win the mixed team gold at Antalya.
What was the score in the recurve mixed team final at Antalya?
India defeated South Korea 5-1 in the recurve mixed team final at the Antalya Archery World Cup. The pair beat Oh Yejin and Kim Je Deok in a closely contested match decided by narrow margins across sets.
Why is this gold medal significant for Indian archery?
It is the first World Cup mixed team gold for both Dhiraj and Kumkum, and it came against Olympic champions South Korea, making it one of the most significant results in recent Indian archery history. The win signals India's growing competitiveness at the elite level of the sport.
What did the AAI say about the victory?
Archery Association of India Secretary General Virendraa Sachdeva congratulated the pair on X, calling the win 'a testament to their exceptional skill, composure and determination' and saying it reflects 'the growing strength, resilience and world-class calibre of Indian archery.'
What are India's Olympic archery prospects after this result?
With the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics approaching, performances like this sharpen India's medal ambitions in recurve archery — a discipline where the country has historically come close but not yet won an Olympic medal. Consistent World Cup results will be crucial for qualification and seeding.
