By Swetha Anil Kumar
For the first time in history, India’s men’s compound archery team won a gold medal at the World Archery Championships on Sunday.
The team was made up of Aman Saini, Rishabh Yadav, and Prathamesh Bhalchandra Fuge.
The Indian team defeated the French team, and the players were Nicolas Girard, Jean Philippe Boulch, and François Dubois.
Rishabh Yadav, Aman Saini, and Prathamesh Fuge showcased an outstanding performance in the final, staging a comeback. They secured a narrow victory of 235-233. After trailing in the first end with a score of 57-59, they bounced back in the second end by scoring 60-58. After trailing in the first end with a score of 57-59, they bounced back in the second end by scoring 60-58. The third end ended in a tie at 59-59, which led to a tie between both the teams.
After a 176-176 tie, India remained steady while France was left with two 9s. Fuge, the team’s lowest-ranked qualifier, helped India secure a gold with a flawless 10 on the last arrow.
One of the team members, Rishabh Yadav, 23, made his World Championship debut by finishing second in the mixed team event with partner Jyothi Surekha Vennam, losing to a team from Netherlands.
This win is an important achievement for India’s compound archery team, which has been competing internationally. They are also going to participate in the Asian Archery Championships in Dhaka to prepare for upcoming events.
The World Archery Championships, which is organized by World Archery, the sport’s global governing body, are held every two years. The compound category features a bow with a levering system of pulleys and cables, which sets it apart from the recurve bow used in events like the Olympics.
India’s performance in this World Archery Championship adds to its growing presence in international archery and supports the development of the sport in the country. The team will also continue training and competing in upcoming global events, including the Asian Archery Championships, to enhance their skills and rankings.