By Ivashree
On a breezy Sunday in Gwangju, three young men with bows in their hands and nerves of steel changed the story of Indian archery forever. Rishabh Yadav, Aman Saini, and Prathamesh Fuge weren’t household names when they arrived in South Korea. By the end of the World Archery Championships they were history makers as they won India’s first men’s compound team gold at the World Championships.
India had never won a men’s compound team gold at the Worlds. The French team looked stronger on paper and early on India trailed. But arrow by arrow the trio fought back. “We just told each other to keep calm, don’t look at the scoreboard like we’ve trained,” Yadav said after the match.
What followed was a masterclass in composure. Six perfect 10s in a row pulled them level. By the final end the tension was thick. France blinked first with two 9s. Then Fuge, the quietest of the three and also the lowest-ranked, stepped up for the last shot. He smiled briefly, drew his bow, and landed a perfect 10. Gold for India by just two points, 235-233.
Coach Jiwanjot Singh Teja could barely hide his pride “Each one of them showed character. They complemented each other and didn’t crumble under pressure. That’s what makes this special.”
For 23-year-old Yadav, the medal capped a long day. He had already won silver in the mixed team event alongside Jyothi Surekha Vennam. For Saini, it was the sweetest validation after years of balancing financial struggles with his sporting dream. “This is the first for India in this category. I can’t explain how proud I feel,” he said, his voice breaking with emotion.
And for Prathamesh Fuge, the unexpected hero, it was the culmination of persistence. He wasn’t the star archer coming in but he left with the shot that will be replayed for years.
The numbers tell one story, a scoreline, a gold medal, a line in the record books. But the faces of these three men tell another of grit, belief and a promise that Indian sport isn’t just about cricket.
For India, this wasn’t just about hitting the target. It was about proving that with focus, patience, and courage, even the biggest stage can belong to them.