Sharvari Shende: India's New Archery Prodigy Strikes Gold

In a historic moment for Indian archery, 16-year-old Sharvari Shende claimed gold in the Under-18 women's recurve event at the World Archery Youth Championships 2025 in Winnipeg, Canada. Her accomplishment marks a significant milestone as she becomes only the third Indian woman to win this title, following in the footsteps of Deepika Kumari and Komalika Bari.

Seeded 20th, Sharvari overcame significant odds and outperformed higher-ranked opponents to reach the finals. She defeated South Korea's Kim Yewon, seeded third, in a tense 7-3 semi-final match. The gold medal match against her final opponent was equally gripping, ending in a 5-5 deadlock before Sharvari clinched victory with a decisive 10-9 shoot-off.

Shende's winning shot was not only a personal triumph but also led India to its most successful outing at the championships, closing with eight medals in total—four gold, two silver, and two bronze. Her performance, alongside other notable achievements by Indian archers, highlights the country's rising prowess in the sport as they look forward to the 2027 championship in Antalya, Turkey.

(With inputs from agencies.)