Dhiraj Bommadevara wins double gold at Archery World Cup Stage 3 in Antalya
Synopsis
A 24-year-old archer from Vijayawada just handed India a historic double: Bommadevara Dhiraj beat Olympic bronze medallist Lee Woo-seok 7-3 to claim India's first men's individual recurve World Cup gold since 2021, then teamed with 17-year-old Kumkum Mohod to defeat top-seeded South Korea 5-1 in the mixed team final — all on the same day in Antalya.
Key Takeaways
Bommadevara Dhiraj won two gold medals at the Archery World Cup Stage 3 in Antalya, Turkey on Sunday, 15 June 2026 .
He defeated Olympic bronze medallist Lee Woo-seok of South Korea 7-3 in the men's individual recurve final — his maiden World Cup gold in the category.
Dhiraj and Kumkum Mohod beat top-seeded South Korean pair Oh Yejin and Kim Je-deok 5-1 in the recurve mixed team final.
He is the first Indian archer to win men's individual recurve gold at a World Cup since Atanu Das in 2021 .
They are only the third Indian mixed recurve pair to win a World Cup stage gold, after Deepika–Atanu ( Paris 2021 ) and Tarundeep–Ridhi ( Antalya 2022 ).
Andhra Pradesh CM Chandrababu Naidu , Governor Abdul Nazeer , and former CM Jagan Mohan Reddy all congratulated Dhiraj on Monday .
Bommadevara Dhiraj, a 24-year-old archer from Vijayawada, claimed two gold medals on Sunday at the Archery World Cup Stage 3 in Antalya, Turkey — winning the Men's Individual Recurve final and the Recurve Mixed Team event alongside Kumkum Mohod. The double triumph made him the first Indian archer to win gold in men's individual recurve since Atanu Das in 2021.
The Individual Final
Dhiraj defeated Lee Woo-seok of South Korea — an Olympic bronze medallist widely regarded as one of the world's most formidable recurve archers — by a scoreline of 7-3 in the men's individual recurve final. The victory marked his maiden Archery World Cup gold in the individual category and is being hailed as one of the most significant results by an Indian male archer in recent years.
Mixed Team Gold
Hours earlier, Dhiraj paired with 17-year-old Kumkum Mohod to defeat the top-seeded South Korean duo of Oh Yejin and Kim Je-deok by 5-1 in the recurve mixed team final. The pair became only the third Indian mixed recurve combination to win gold at a World Cup stage, following Deepika Kumari and Atanu Das in Paris in 2021, and Tarundeep Rai and Ridhi in Antalya in 2022.
Andhra Pradesh Leaders React
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu congratulated Dhiraj in a post on X on Monday, calling the win a matter of pride. 'Achieving victory in the finals over Lee Woo-seok from South Korea, who holds an unbeatable position in archery, stands as a testament to Dhiraj's talent. On this occasion, best wishes to Dheeraj, Kumkum Mohod, and Team India. I wholeheartedly wish for them to achieve many more victories,' Naidu wrote.
Governor S. Abdul Nazeer also extended congratulations, describing the double gold as 'a proud moment for Andhra Pradesh and the country.' Former Chief Minister and YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) president Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy lauded Dhiraj for 'creating history' and noted that winning two golds in a single day 'has made Andhra Pradesh and India proud.'
Historical Context
Dhiraj's individual gold is only the latest milestone in a sport where India has historically struggled to break through at the men's recurve level. Notably, the Antalya venue itself holds significance — India's mixed recurve pair had previously won gold there in 2022. With the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics on the horizon, Dhiraj's performances will sharpen scrutiny on India's Olympic archery selection cycle.
Point of View
Overshadowed by the women's programme and the compound discipline. Beating Lee Woo-seok, who is as close to a sure thing as recurve archery has, is not a routine World Cup result; it is a signal. The real question now is whether the Sports Authority of India and the Archery Association of India can build a structured pathway around Dhiraj ahead of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, or whether this — like several promising Indian archery performances before it — remains an isolated peak.
NationPress
1 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Bommadevara Dhiraj win at the Archery World Cup Stage 3?
Dhiraj won two gold medals at the Archery World Cup Stage 3 in Antalya, Turkey — one in the Men's Individual Recurve event and one in the Recurve Mixed Team event alongside Kumkum Mohod. Both finals were held on Sunday, 15 June 2026.
Who did Dhiraj defeat in the individual recurve final?
Dhiraj defeated Lee Woo-seok of South Korea, an Olympic bronze medallist, by a scoreline of 7-3 in the men's individual recurve final. Lee is widely considered one of the top recurve archers in the world.
Who is Kumkum Mohod and what did she achieve?
Kumkum Mohod is a 17-year-old Indian archer who partnered Dhiraj in the recurve mixed team event. Together they defeated the top-seeded South Korean pair of Oh Yejin and Kim Je-deok 5-1 to win gold, becoming only the third Indian mixed recurve pair to win at a World Cup stage.
Why is Dhiraj's individual gold historically significant?
Dhiraj is the first Indian archer to win gold in men's individual recurve at a World Cup since Atanu Das achieved the feat in 2021. Indian men's recurve has historically struggled at the top level internationally, making this result a notable breakthrough.
How did Andhra Pradesh's political leaders respond to Dhiraj's win?
Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu posted congratulations on X, calling the result a testament to Dhiraj's talent. Governor S. Abdul Nazeer described it as a proud moment for Andhra Pradesh and India. Former Chief Minister Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy also congratulated Dhiraj, calling the double gold a historic achievement.
