Madhura Dhamangaonkar Shines with Gold at Archery World Cup
Madhura Dhamangaonkar's Remarkable Comeback
In a stunning return to form, Madhura Dhamangaonkar secured her first individual World Cup gold, leading India's impressive medal tally in the compound category, which included two golds, one silver, and two bronzes at the Archery Stage 2 event held on Saturday.
After being unranked for three years, Madhura delivered an exceptional performance in the final, narrowly defeating the USA's Carson Krahe with a score of 139-138 to claim the top spot.
The 24-year-old from Amravati, Maharashtra, also earned a team silver and a mixed team bronze, achieving a remarkable total of three medals.
Her individual final was filled with ups and downs; she started strong with a perfect score of 30, including two Xs, but stumbled with two 8s and a 7 in the subsequent rounds, trailing 81-85.
Krahe, ranked 52nd and a bronze medallist from last year's World Cup, took advantage with a perfect score of 30 in the third round.
However, Madhura displayed incredible composure, scoring 29 in the fourth round to tie the match at 110. In the final round, she shot two Xs and a 9, while Krahe managed only 28, securing Madhura's thrilling one-point victory.
India's Strong Performance in Team Events
India's medal journey began with a gold in the men's team event, where the trio of Abhishek Verma, Ojas Deotale, and Rishabh Yadav triumphed over Mexico with a score of 232-228 in a closely contested final.
The top-seeded Indian team started strong, leading 59 to Mexico's 57, but the match was tied at 115-115 at the halfway point. India regained momentum with a score of 58 in the third round and clinched victory with a final score of 59, while Mexico could only manage 56.
Yadav, aged 22, also secured his first individual World Cup medal by defeating South Korea's Kim Jongho in a dramatic shoot-off for bronze, after both archers ended with a score of 145-145 (10*-10).
Despite losing to world No. 1 Mike Schloesser of the Netherlands earlier, Yadav's performance showcased his potential.
Madhura's Journey and Future Prospects
Madhura, who topped the Indian qualifiers and earned the third seed, began her individual journey by defeating Turkey's world No. 13 Hazal Burun with a composed score of 143-141, thanks to two flawless opening rounds.
In the women's team final, she teamed up with Jyothi Surekha Vennam and Chikitha Taniparthi to secure silver, despite a 221-234 loss to a formidable Mexican team.
Even with the loss, the Indian team demonstrated significant promise throughout the tournament. Madhura also contributed to the mixed team bronze alongside Verma, overcoming Malaysia 144-142 in a low-scoring playoff.
These achievements underscore India's growing prowess and consistency in compound archery on the global stage.
As compound archery prepares for its Olympic debut at the Los Angeles 2028 Games with a mixed team event, India is poised to pursue its first Olympic medal in this discipline.
Recurve events are set for the final day of Stage 2 on Sunday, with India aiming for three additional medals. The men's team will compete in the bronze playoff, while Parth Salunkhe and Deepika Kumari will begin their semifinal campaigns.