What Went Wrong for Indian Recurve Archers at the World Championships?
Click to start listening
Synopsis
In a gripping tale of resilience, India's recurve archers faced significant challenges at the World Championships in Gwangju. The women’s team narrowly missed out on a bronze medal against South Korea, while mixed team and men’s individual events ended in heartbreak. With hopes resting on Deepika Kumari and young talent Gatha Khadake, can India turn the tide in upcoming competitions?
Key Takeaways
- Women's team narrowly lost to South Korea in bronze playoff.
- Mixed team faced defeat in a shoot-off against Japan.
- Men's individual events saw early exits for Indian archers.
- Deepika Kumari and Gatha Khadake are key players in upcoming individual competitions.
- India seeks to break a long medal drought in recurve archery.
Gwangju (South Korea), Sep 10 (NationPress) India’s recurve archers faced another setback on a significant platform as the women’s team was defeated by South Korea in the playoff for the bronze medal, while the mixed pair and men’s individual aspirations also ended in frustration at the World Championships on Wednesday.
In a bid to break a decade-long medal drought in the recurve category, the women’s trio of Deepika Kumari, Gatha Khadake, and Ankita Bhakat succumbed 3-5 against the strong hosts. It was a missed chance for India, as the Korean archers appeared less dominant, exhibiting inconsistent shooting and failing to achieve a perfect set.
After dropping the initial set 51-54, India rallied back with four 10s in the second to level at 57-57, unsettling a Korean squad that has secured Olympic gold for ten consecutive editions. Building on this momentum, they seized the third set 57-54 to equalize at 3-3, igniting hopes for a medal breakthrough. However, in the crucial final set, the Koreans, spearheaded by Olympic champions An San and Lim Si-hyeon, maintained their composure to clinch the fourth set 56-54 and the match 5-3.
Disappointment continued in the mixed team event, where Deepika and Neeraj Chauhan lost in a shoot-off to Japan’s Nanami Asakuno and Yuki Kawata. After recovering from an initial set deficit and even leading 4-2, the Indian duo faltered in the final shoot-off, unable to score a single 10, resulting in a 4-5 (18-19) defeat.
The men’s individual competition concluded earlier for India. Debutant Rahul made an impressive run to the last-32, but despite leading 5-1 against Georgia’s Aleksandre Machavariani, he faced a shoot-off defeat (8-10). Olympian Dhiraj Bommadevara lost 2-6 to former Olympic champion Mete Gazoz, while Neeraj Chauhan exited in straight sets against Uzbekistan’s Bobrajabov Bekzod.
The 31-year-old Deepika, making her return to the Worlds after motherhood, continues her quest for an elusive medal. All eyes now turn to the women’s individual category, with Deepika and the emerging 15-year-old Gatha carrying India’s aspirations.
India’s recurve medal drought at the World Championships has persisted since 2019, when Atanu Das, Pravin Jadhav, and Tarundeep Rai secured team silver in Den Bosch. Since then, the spotlight has shifted to the compound archers, who have already made history in Gwangju, winning men’s team gold and mixed team silver through Rishabh Yadav and Jyothi Surekha Vennam.
Point of View
It is imperative to acknowledge the valiant efforts of our archers despite the setbacks at the World Championships. The resilience shown by athletes like Deepika Kumari and promising newcomers like Gatha Khadake highlight the potential for future success. While disappointment lingers, it is essential that we continue to support and nurture our archers as they strive for excellence on the international stage.
NationPress
10/09/2025
Frequently Asked Questions
What were the results for the Indian recurve archers?
The Indian women's team lost to South Korea in the bronze medal playoff, the mixed team lost to Japan in a shoot-off, and the men's individual hopes ended with early exits.
Who were the key players in the women's team?
The women's team consisted of Deepika Kumari, Gatha Khadake, and Ankita Bhakat.
What is the significance of the team's performance?
This performance underscores India's ongoing struggle for medals in the recurve category, with hopes now resting on upcoming individual events.
When was the last time India won a recurve medal at the World Championships?
India's last recurve medal at the World Championships was in 2019, when they won team silver in Den Bosch.
What is next for the Indian archers?
The focus now shifts to the women's individual events, where Deepika and Gatha will carry the nation's hopes.
