India's Recurve Archery: A Shot Away from Triumph

The World Cup Stage 2 turned out to be a disappointment for India's recurve archery teams, with the men finishing fourth and the women bowing out before the quarterfinals.

In a closely contested match, the Indian men's team—comprising Dhiraj Bommadevara, Atanu Das, and Tarundeep Rai—finished fourth after losing the bronze-medal match to the USA 3-5. A crucial arrow in the 8-ring cost them the first set, and although they rallied in the third set, a tie in the fourth set dashed hopes for a potential shoot-off.

The Indian women's team, featuring Deepika Kumari, Ankita Bhakat, and Anshika Kumari, faced an early exit, losing to the 14th-seeded Mexico in a dramatic shoot-off. Meanwhile, the promising performance of India's compound teams, who have reached the finals, draws a stark contrast and highlights an urgent need for reviving the prowess of India's recurve teams as the Los Angeles Olympics 2028 approach.

(With inputs from agencies.)