Indian archers made headlines at the 24th Asian Archery Championships in Dhaka, securing an unprecedented haul of 10 medals, including individual golds by Ankita Bhakat and Dhiraj Bommadevara in the women’s and men’s recurve categories.
The women’s recurve gold came from Bhakat’s stunning victory over South Korean Olympic silver medallist Nam Suhyeon, while Bommadevara outperformed fellow Indian Rahul to seal the men’s title. India’s overall performance, including team successes in compound and recurve events, ended Korea’s long-standing dominance and established India as the top nation in archery at this continental championship.
Historic Individual Wins and Team Excellence
This year’s championship was particularly notable for India’s breakthrough in recurve events. Ankita Bhakat, after her intense semifinal shoot-off victory against former world No. 1 Deepika Kumari, displayed exceptional skill and focus to defeat Nam Suhyeon 7-3 in the finals.
Bhakat said, “Playing in the Archery Premier League has lifted my confidence, and this is my biggest win so far.” Her victory is a key milestone as no Indian woman had previously won this title at the championship. In the men’s individual event, Dhiraj Bommadevara triumphed over teammate Rahul 6-2, marking a 1-2 finish for India, reflecting the country’s deep talent pool. Moreover, the women’s recurve bronze was clinched by Sangeeta, who edged veteran Deepika Kumari in a thrilling shoot-off, further demonstrating India’s rising standard.
India’s compound archers also shone brightly. The Compound Women’s Team, comprising Deepshikha, Jyothi Surekha Vennam, and Prithika Pradeep, captured gold after a nail-biting final against Korea, with a score of 236-234. Additionally, Abhishek Verma and Deepshikha secured gold in the Compound Mixed Team event against Bangladesh, while the Compound Men’s Team took silver, narrowly losing to Kazakhstan.
These successes across disciplines reinforced India’s overall dominance in the championships, leading the medal tally with six golds, three silvers, and one bronze.
Context and Significance of the Victory
India’s performance at Dhaka shattered Korea’s long-standing dominance, which spanned nearly two decades in recurve categories. The men’s recurve team ended Korea’s 12-year reign by winning gold in a dramatic shoot-off, signalling a shift in Asian archery power dynamics.
The victories come after years of consistent efforts, improved training facilities, and the promotion of archery via domestic leagues like the Archery Premier League. These achievements underscore India’s emergence as a leading archery nation on the continent, with a growing pool of young talent ready to challenge established powers.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
India’s record-breaking success at the Asian Archery Championships is more than just a sporting achievement. It is a demonstration of dedication, collective effort, and the gradual transformation of Indian sports culture, fostering unity and shared pride across the country.
These victories emphasize the importance of supporting sporting talent as a means of peaceful competition and international respect. As India celebrates these accomplishments, we reflect on how sporting victories can inspire broader social harmony and foster dialogues of cooperation both within the nation and across borders.
#AsianArcheryChampionships: Ankita Bhakat and Dhiraj Bommadevara win historic recurve #golds🥇for India.#TeamIndia #ArcheryIndia #Dhaka2025 #IndianArchery🏹 pic.twitter.com/bXUqmM5Jw1
— All India Radio News (@airnewsalerts) November 15, 2025
