Sahil Jadhav Wins Bronze at Archery World Cup in Stunning Debut

Sahil Jadhav, a rising star in archery, has made headlines by winning a bronze medal at the Archery World Cup during his second international appearance. The 25-year-old from Maharashtra defeated Denmark's Martin Damsbo in a thrilling playoff, marking India's first medal in the tournament. Despite a disappointing campaign for the Indian compound teams, Jadhav's performance stands out as he aims for further success in upcoming recurve events. His journey in Shanghai has been remarkable, showcasing his potential on the global stage.

By Narendra Chaudhary May 10, 2026, 02:01 IST

Sahil Jadhav's Historic Bronze Medal Win

In a remarkable achievement, Sahil Jadhav, the reigning champion of the World University Games, secured his first medal at the Archery World Cup during his second outing on the international stage, clinching bronze in the compound men's event on Saturday.

The 25-year-old archer from Maharashtra triumphed over Denmark's seasoned player and coach Martin Damsbo, winning 147-144 in the playoff for bronze, marking India's inaugural medal at this tournament.

This victory also represented India's last medal in the compound category, as none of his compatriots advanced to the medal rounds.

Historically strong in compound team events, India faced a disappointing tournament, with all teams eliminated early.

Looking ahead, India aims to secure two additional medals on the final day of competition on Sunday in the recurve events.

The women's team is set to compete for gold, while Simranjeet Kaur will start her semifinal match, needing just one win to earn her first World Cup medal.

Jadhav initially trailed by a point after the first end, as Damsbo opened with three perfect 10s.

However, Jadhav responded impressively in the second end, scoring a perfect 30 while Damsbo managed only 27, allowing Jadhav to take the lead at 59-57.

From that point, Jadhav maintained control, dropping only two points from his last nine arrows to secure a memorable three-point victory.

Having made his World Cup debut just last month in Puebla, Mexico, Jadhav's performance in Shanghai has been outstanding.

His journey began with a win against India's most experienced compound archer, Abhishek Verma, in the round of 32.

He then overcame Germany's Ruven Fluss in the pre-quarterfinals and narrowly defeated 2022 world champion and world No. 6 Nico Wiener of Austria in a tense shoot-off to reach the semifinals.

Unfortunately, his quest for gold ended in disappointment as reigning world champion and world No. 3 Nicolas Girard of France narrowly defeated him by a single point in a high-stakes semifinal.

Throughout the match, Jadhav kept the pressure on Girard, trailing by just one point after the first three ends.

He matched Girard with three perfect 10s in the third end and outscored him 30-29 in the fourth to tie the match at 117-117.

However, Girard showcased his skill in the final end, scoring three Xs—arrows closest to the center—securing a narrow one-point victory over the promising Indian archer.