Indian men’s Compound Archery team wins World Cup Stage 1 bronze

The Indian team, comprising Rishabh Yadav, Abhishek Verma and Ojas Deotale, won the men’s Compound bronze in the Central Florida 2025 Archery World Cup Stage 1 in the Laky Myrtle Sports Park in Auburndale on Wednesday. It heralded the new season with a podium finish, not allowing the uncertainties around other members of the team reaching the venue to affect its show.

Having lost 27-27 in the three-arrow shoot off to Italy after tying 219-219 in the semifinals, the team returned to defeat Denmark 230-223 in the play-off. Denmark had finished the qualification round in third place and lost 218-222 to the United States of America in the other semifinals. Italy had surprised the top-ranked Mexico in the quarterfinals, also in a tiebreaker (28-24).

India held a one-point lead in the bronze medal play-off after the first six arrows were shot with the scores reading 55-54, but the Danes shot ahead with a 56-54 effort. India pulled back to level scores 166-166 at the end of 18 arrows and both teams shot their worst scores with the last bunch of six arrows, 53-53 to force the tiebreaker at 219-219.

In the year’s first World Cup competition, the Indian trio had shot a collective score of 2090 in the qualification round, with Rishabh Yadav shooting 698 to secure the 11th rank, Abhishek Verma 697 (12th) and Ojas Deotale 695 (18th). The team’s fourth rank secured it a first round bye. It then beat Guatemala 220-218 in the quarterfinals.

India was unable to field a women’s team as only Jyothi Surekha Vennam reached Auburndale ahead of Tuesday’s qualification. Madhura Dhamangaonkar, Taniparthi Chikitha and Aditi Swami were unable to reach the venue in time due to delays is securing visas because of system issues. Archery Association of India officials said two members of the contingent did not secure visas.

With a total of 691 in the qualification round, World No. 4 Jyothi Surekha Vennam earned herself the fifth rank in the individual event. She shot 350 with the first 36 arrows, including 27 10s, but was not accurate on return when she shot 341 with 19 10s. She will also pair up with Rishabh Yadav in the Mixed Team event on Friday. 

The Recurve archers are scheduled to be in action in the qualification round later in the day. The men’s squad includes World No. 14 B Dhiraj, Tarundeep Rai, Atanu Das and Parth Salunkhe) while the women’s team has Anshika Kumari, Ankita Bhakat, Simranjeet Kaur and World No. 3 Deepika Kumari.