Archery World Cup Stage 1: Dhiraj Bommadevara bags individual bronze, men's team wins silver

India's Dhiraj Bommadevara shines with bronze at Archery World Cup Stage 1, leading India to four medals.

India wrapped up their campaign at the Archery World Cup Stage 1 with a creditable four medals, including a silver in the men’s recurve team event and a bronze by rising star Dhiraj Bommadevara in the individual recurve category.

The 23-year-old Army archer Dhiraj showed exceptional grit and composure to clinch the bronze medal match, bouncing back from a 2-4 deficit to beat Andres Temino Mediel of Spain 6-4 in a tense five-setter on Sunday (April 13).

Earlier in the day, he was also part of the Indian trio alongside veterans Tarundeep Rai and Atanu Das that settled for silver after a 1-5 loss to China in the team final.

India’s medal tally from the tournament stood at four — gold in the compound mixed team, bronze in compound men’s team, silver in recurve men’s team and bronze in recurve men’s individual (Dhiraj).

India’s campaign also saw Abhishek Verma narrowly miss out on a medal, finishing fourth in the compound men’s individual section.

In the bronze medal match, Dhiraj and Mediel tied the first set 28-28.

The Spaniard then edged ahead 29-28 in the second set with two 10s, while Dhiraj could manage only one, to take a 3-1 lead.