Summary
India's recurve archery teams faced tough losses at the Archery World Cup Stage 4 in Madrid. Both the men's and women's teams lost to the USA in the quarterfinals. However, the mixed recurve pair of Dhiraj Bommadevara and Kirti Sharma still has a chance to win a medal. They will compete in the bronze playoff against Italy. In the compound section, India has already secured at least one medal, with the women's team reaching the final.
Main Impact
The biggest blow came in the team events. The second-seeded Indian men's recurve team, made up of Dhiraj Bommadevara, Neeraj Chauhan, and Yashdeep Bhoge, lost badly to the seventh-seeded USA team. They lost all three sets 6-0. The American team, led by Olympic medalist Brady Ellison, put early pressure on India. The Indian team made mistakes, including a 7 and an 8 in the first set. The USA then shot five perfect 10s out of six arrows to take a strong lead and finish the match.
The women's team of Ankita Bhakat, Kirti Sharma, and Kumkum Mohod fought harder but still lost 2-6 to the USA. They tied the first and third sets, but a poor fourth set with three 8s and a 7 cost them the match.
Key Details
What Happened
On Thursday, July 9, 2026, Indian archers competed in multiple events at the Archery World Cup Stage 4 in Madrid. The recurve mixed pair of Dhiraj Bommadevara and Kirti Sharma reached the semifinals but lost to China 3-5. They will now face Italy for the bronze medal. In the compound section, the mixed pair of Prithika Pradeep and Sahil Jadhav lost to Mexico in a shoot-off after tying 153-153.
Important Numbers and Facts
The men's recurve team lost 6-0 in straight sets. The set scores were 53-56, 55-59, and 56-58. The women's team lost 2-6, with set scores of 52-52, 54-55, 54-54, and 51-56. Veteran archer Deepika Kumari, a four-time Olympian, lost in the second round of the individual event. She lost to Poland's Karina Kozlowska 5-6 in a shoot-off. Asian Games-bound Yashdeep Bhoge lost in the first round. However, six other Indian archers are still competing in individual events.
Background and Context
The Archery World Cup is a major international competition where archers from around the world compete. India has been performing well in recent events. Dhiraj Bommadevara won gold with Kumkum Mohod at the Antalya World Cup last month. This event in Madrid is the fourth stage of the World Cup series. Strong performances here help archers earn ranking points and qualify for bigger tournaments like the World Championships and Olympics.
Public or Industry Reaction
The news of the team losses has disappointed Indian archery fans. Many had high hopes after the recent success in Antalya. However, there is still optimism about the individual events. Dhiraj Bommadevara is the second seed in the men's individual event. Kirti Sharma is the fourth seed in the women's event. Both are seen as strong medal contenders. The compound women's team reaching the final has also brought some positive news for India.
What This Means Going Forward
India still has several chances to win medals in Madrid. The mixed recurve pair will fight for bronze against Italy. The compound women's team is in the final and guaranteed at least a silver medal. In individual events, Dhiraj Bommadevara, Neeraj Chauhan, and Atanu Das will start from the round of 32 in the men's section. Kirti Sharma, Kumkum Mohod, and Ankita Bhakat will do the same in the women's section. These archers need to stay focused and avoid the mistakes that hurt the team events.
Final Take
While the team losses are a setback, India still has strong medal chances in Madrid. The mixed pair and individual archers can bring home more honors. The key will be consistency and handling pressure in big matches. Fans will be watching closely as the competition continues.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did the Indian recurve teams lose to the USA?
The men's team made early mistakes, including low scores of 7 and 8 in the first set. The USA team shot very well, including five perfect 10s. The women's team fought hard but had a poor fourth set with several low scores.
Who is still in medal contention for India?
The mixed recurve pair of Dhiraj Bommadevara and Kirti Sharma will compete for bronze against Italy. The compound women's team has reached the final and is guaranteed a medal. Several Indian archers are also still competing in individual events.
What is the Archery World Cup Stage 4?
It is the fourth of several World Cup events held each year. Archers from different countries compete in recurve and compound events. Good results help with rankings and qualification for major tournaments.
