Dhiraj Bommadevara Leads Indian Charge at Archery World Cup; Deepika Exit in Quarterfinals

As the 2025 Archery World Cup circuit kicks off post-Paris Olympics, India’s recurve archers delivered a mix of brilliance and heartbreak in the individual elimination rounds.

The standout performer was Dhiraj Bommadevara, who stormed into the semifinals with a series of mature, clutch performances.

Recurve Men – Dhiraj in a Zone of His Own

India’s Olympic sensation Dhiraj Bommadevara showed exactly why he’s the present and future of Indian men’s archery, advancing to the semifinals with four clinical wins.

• 1/32: Defeated Camerin Pickering (BER) 6-0
• 1/16: Beat Carlos Rojas (MEX) 7-1, showcasing technical dominance
• 1/8: In an all-Indian clash, Dhiraj overpowered Atanu Das 7-3, holding his nerve in high-pressure ends
• 1/4: Held off French veteran Thomas Chirault 6-4 in a gritty contest

Semifinal matchup: Dhiraj will face Florian Unruh (GER) — the world No. 2 and a seasoned medalist. It promises to be a test of temperament and shot-to-shot consistency.

Atanu Das also showed flashes of form, including a 6-0 win over Moritz Wieser (GER) and a strong 6-4 victory over Maximilian Weckmueller, before falling to Dhiraj.

Meanwhile, Tarundeep Rai, after edging Berkay Akkoyun (TUR) 6-5 in a shoot-off, fell in the next round to Matias Grande (MEX) 2-6. It was a reminder that while experience counts, precision under pressure remains king.

Recurve Women – Quarterfinal Blockade for Deepika

In the women’s section, three Indians reached the Round of 16, but none managed to make the semifinals.

Deepika Kumari

 – Back on the circuit and in solid touch, she fought her way through:

• 1/32: Beat Ana Luiza (BRA) 6-0
• 1/16: Narrowly edged Yi-Ching Chiu (TPE) 6-4
• 1/8: Outlasted Dianda Choirunisa (INA) 6-4 in a tense finish
• 1/4: Lost to Casey Kaufhold (USA) 2-6 — the American archer shot with relentless accuracy

Deepika’s return to top-tier shooting is promising, but the quarterfinal loss underlines a recurring trend — India’s top female archers struggling to convert deep runs into medals.

Ankita Bhakat

 – A strong start saw her:

• Cruise past Ka Man Lam (HKG) 6-0
• But then ran into a fired-up Ayu Dyasari (INA) in the 1/16, falling 2-6 despite a composed shooting rhythm.

Anshika Kumari

 – Fought hard through:

• Wins over Simranjeet Kaur and Lucia Ibañez Romero, including a shoot-off win in the latter
• But fell short in the Round of 16 to Lucia Ibañez 5-6 (tiebreak)

Key Takeaways:

• Dhiraj Bommadevara’s Consistency: Four wins, minimal errors, and excellent groupings in wind-shifted conditions — Dhiraj is clearly India’s leading light in men’s recurve.
• All-Indian Knockouts: Atanu vs. Dhiraj clash was one of the tournament highlights, but it also meant one Indian had to bow out earlier than deserved.
• Women’s Squad Rebuilding? While Deepika and Ankita remain among the best, a younger face breaking through (like Anshika) and converting to the last four is the next big step.
• Match Management: Indian archers often start strong but face dips in decisive quarters or tiebreaks — something to address with mental conditioning and clutch-practice routines.

What’s Next:

• Dhiraj’s semifinal showdown with Florian Unruh will be watched keenly. A medal finish here would mark his second straight big tournament breakthrough after Paris.
• Focus now shifts to mixed and team finals — where India’s medal potential remains high.