Archery World Cup Stage 2: At the Archery World Cup Stage 2 held here on Saturday, Indian compound archers put on an incredible show, hitting bull’s eyes as they won gold, silver, and bronze each in the team competitions.

The gold won by the men’s team, which included Abhishek Verma, Ojas Deotale, and Rishabh Yadav, after defeating Mexico 232-228 in a close final, was the high point of the medal rush.

With an almost faultless 59 in the first end against Mexico’s 57, India got out to a fast start and took a 2-point lead. Mexico rallied with 58 in the second half, but India rallied with 56 to tie the score at 115-115 at the break.

India took a slim 173-172 lead in the third end after edging ahead once again with a 58 while Mexico scored 57.

In the end, the Indian three remained composed and shot an incredible 59 to win the gold, while Mexico only managed 56.

The team consisting of Jyothi Surekha Vennam, Madhura Dhamangaonkar, and Chikitha Taniparthi lost to a formidable Mexican team 221-234 in the women’s compound final, settling for silver.

Though it was a one-sided match, the Indian ladies finished on the podium because they showed potential throughout the competition.

In a low-scoring third-place playoff, the Indian compound mixed team of Verma and Madhura defeated Malaysia to win bronze, adding to their medal total.

After three years, the 24-year-old Madhura, who had never before won a World Cup medal, is returning to the tournament for the second time. The 2022 Archery World Cup Stage 4 in Medellin was her last participation.

These outcomes highlight India’s increasing proficiency and depth in compound archery on the international scene.

India will be aiming for its first-ever archery medal at the mega sports event, as compound archery is scheduled to make its Olympic debut in 2028 in Los Angeles with a single event in the mixed team category.