File photo of Rishabh Yadav. FIle
| Photo Credit: World Archery Federation via Getty Images
Young archer Rishabh Yadav beat his mentor Abhishek Verma 149-147 to win the compound men’s individual bronze medal at the World Games in Chengdu, China, on Saturday (August 9, 2025).
Both Abhishek and Rishabh won their respective quarterfinal matches but lost in the semifinals to set up an all-Indian contest for the bronze medal.
Rishabh raised his game as he dropped only one point in the second end to ward off Abhishek’s challenge and corner glory.
In the women’s section, Parneet Kaur and Madhura Dhamangaonkar exited in the quarterfinals.
The results:
Compound: Individual: Men: Quarterfinal: Abhishek Verma bt Sawyer Sullivan (USA) 148-145; Rishabh Yadav bt Yagiz Sezgin (Tur) 147-145; Semifinal: Abhishek lost to Mike Schloesser (Ned) 145-148; Rishabh lost to Curtis Lee Broadnax (USA) 145-147; Bronze medal match: Rishabh bt Abhishek 149-147.
Women: Quarterfinal: Parneet Kaur lost to Alejandra Usquiano (Col) 140-145; Madhura Dhamangaonkar lost to Lisell Jaatma (Est) 145-149.
Mixed team concern
The biggest disappointment, however, came in the mixed compound event. Having topped the qualification round, the Indian pair of Verma and Madhura entered as favourites but succumbed to their familiar nemesis, South Korea, in the very first round.
The duo lost 151-154 to Moon Yeeun and Lee Eunho, bringing curtains on the Indian campaign. No one is competing in the recurve category.
The Koreans edged the first end 38-37 before stepping on the gas with a perfect second end, while the Indians faltered with a 27 to fall four points behind.
The third end was tied 37-37, and although the Indians edged the final end 40-39, it was too late.
The result was particularly alarming given the eight-team draw required just two wins to secure a medal, and with the mixed compound team event set to make its Olympic debut at Los Angeles 2028, the early exit exposed both pressure-handling issues and tactical shortcomings that has ailed the Indian archers at the highest level.
Denmark’s Mathias Fullerton and Sofie Louise Dam Marcussen won the compound mixed team title, beating Mexico 156-155.
This competition set the stage for something much bigger; the debut of the compound mixed team competition at the LA28 Olympic Games in three years, and the Danish compound elite are itching to be a part of it.
“The Olympics opens up so many things for funding and stuff like that,” Fullerton told World Archery website.
“And now we’ve really proved that we can do it. Denmark is a small country, but one of the best there is. So I’m super happy that we got to show it here.”
(With inputs from PTI)
Published – August 09, 2025 02:51 pm IST