Asian Games 2026: Dhiraj Bommadevara Sets Games Record as India Impress in Archery Qualification

India produced a strong performance in the archery qualification rounds at the 2026 Asian Games, headlined by Dhiraj Bommadevara setting a new Games Record in the men’s recurve event.

Dhiraj finished the 72-arrow qualification round with 698 points, topping the men’s standings and recording a new personal best. His performance also placed him at the top of the Indian recurve team, which finished second in the team rankings. The Indian archer's 698 surpassed the previous Games Record and also represented a major improvement on his earlier qualification performance.

Dhiraj was joined by Neeraj Chauhan, who finished 20th with 676, and Yashdeep Bhoge, who was 25th with 665. Together, the trio accumulated 2039 points, placing India second in the men's team standings behind South Korea.

The qualification round featured 72 arrows, with the archers required to maintain consistency across the competition. Dhiraj began exceptionally well. After the opening 12 arrows, he led the field with 119 points, including four inner 10s. Neeraj had 114 and was 15th, while Yashdeep scored 111 to sit 25th. Dhiraj remained among the leaders after the next block of arrows, although he briefly slipped to third after scoring 113 from arrows 13 to 24. His total at that stage stood at 232.

The Indian then maintained his challenge through the middle stages of qualification. After 60 arrows, Dhiraj was again at the top with 581 points, including 11 inner 10s. Neeraj had climbed to 13th with 566, while Yashdeep was 26th with 554. The final 12 arrows ultimately completed Dhiraj's record-setting qualification round.

He finished with 698, taking first place and establishing the new Games Record.

The combined scores of Dhiraj, Neeraj and Yashdeep gave India 2039 points in the men's recurve team standings. South Korea finished ahead of India, leaving the Indian trio in second place heading into the team competition. Neeraj's improvement through the qualification round was particularly notable. After starting outside the top 10, he moved up during the middle stages before eventually finishing 20th.

Yashdeep also climbed from his early position but ended qualification 25th. The individual rankings will determine the subsequent draws, while the team ranking gives India a strong starting position for the knockout stages.

India also had a top-ranked qualifier in the women's compound event, with Chikitha Taniparthi finishing first with 705 points. Chikitha's score was just one point short of the Games Record, making her performance one of the standout results of the qualification session. She had begun the competition with 118 points from her first 12 arrows, initially sitting eighth because of the number of inner 10s.

She then produced a perfect series across the next 12 arrows, taking her total to 238 and moving into first place. Chikitha continued to hold the lead as the qualification round progressed.

After 60 arrows, she had 591 points with 25 inner 10s, remaining firmly at the top of the standings. She ultimately completed her 72 arrows with 705 points.

India's other two women's compound archers also delivered solid performances. Jyothi Surekha Vennam finished 12th with 699, while teenager Prithika Pradeep was 20th with 695. Prithika had started particularly strongly. After the first 12 arrows, she was India's highest-ranked archer with 118 points and seven inner 10s, sitting fourth overall.

Chikitha had the same score but was eighth at that stage. After 24 arrows, Chikitha had moved to the top with 238, while Prithika was fourth on 234 and Jyothi joint-fifth on 233. The rankings shifted during the middle stages, but Chikitha remained at the summit.

India Second in Women’s Compound Team Ranking

The three Indian women combined for 2099 points, exactly the same score as China. China, however, took the top position on the applicable tiebreak criteria, leaving India second in the team standings. The Indian women's team therefore enters the next stage from second position, with Chikitha also carrying the distinction of being the top individual qualifier.

With Dhiraj topping the men's recurve rankings with a Games Record 698 and Chikitha leading the women's compound field with 705, India has made a strong start to the archery competition. The qualification rounds are now complete, and attention turns to the individual and team draws, where the Indian archers will look to convert their impressive qualification performances into medals.