Archery World Cup: Dhiraj Bommadevara claims individual bronze medal in men's recurve

The 21-year-old had also won gold in the Compound mixed-team event.

Dhiraj Bommadevara finished India’s campaign on a positive note by claiming the bronze medal at the Archery World Cup Stage I 2023 held in Antalya. The 21-year-old defeated Ilfat Abdullin of Kazakstan (7-3) to claim the bronze medal in the men’s individual recurve. India ends the campaign by winning four medals (two each in the compound and recurve section).

Dhiraj finished the qualification round by scoring 665 and was seeded 15th (second-best seeded Indian behind Atanu Das). He had a good start to the initial three rounds posting easy victories but his first major test was against three-time Olympic medallist Brady Ellison.

The fourth-round match was tied (5-5) at the end of five sets and a shoot-off was conducted to decide the winner. Dhiraj held his nerve to score a perfect 10 (X closer to the inner circle) and progressed to the quarter-finals.

The 21-year-old started the semi-finals on a positive note and was a set away from reaching the final (4-0). 26-year-old Dan Olaru used all his experience and fought back hard by winning three consecutive sets and winning the match (6-4). Within a gap of a few minutes, Dhiraj was back to play the bronze medal match and won the match comfortably (7-3).

Indian men’s recurve individual archers result

Atanu Das- lost in the fourth round

Tarundeep Rai - lost in the quarterfinals

Neeraj Chauhan - lost in the first round

Dhiraj Bommadevara’s performance at the Archery World Cup Group Stage I

Round 1 - defeats Theo Carbonetti (6-0)

Round 2 - defeats Keziah Chabin (6-4)

Round 3 - defeats Ziga Ravnikar (6-4)

Round 4 - defeats Brady Ellison (6-5)

Quarterfinals - defeats Tarundeep Rai (6-4)

Semifinals - lost to Dan Olaru (4-6)

Bronze medal play-off - defeats Ilfat Abdullin (7-3)