Kirti Bhakat and Prithika Pradeep Storm into Archery World Cup Semi-finals as India Wins Compound Women's Team Silver

India enjoyed another productive day at the Hyundai Archery World Cup Stage 4 in Madrid, with Kirti Bhakat and Prithika Pradeep booking places in the individual semi-finals while the Indian compound women's team added another World Cup medal by securing silver after an impressive campaign.

The day showcased both the depth and consistency of Indian archery. While the experienced trio of Jyothi Surekha Vennam, Prithika Pradeep, and Chikitha Taniparthi finished runners-up in the compound women's team event, India's challenge in the individual categories gathered further momentum as Kirti and Prithika advanced to the final four in their respective disciplines.

India's compound women's team continued its remarkable consistency on the international circuit by winning the silver medal after finishing second to Colombia in the gold medal match. The Indian trio of Jyothi Surekha Vennam, Prithika Pradeep, and Chikitha Taniparthi went down 228-232 against a strong Colombian team comprising Sara Lopez, Mariana Rodriguez, and Alejandra Usquiano.

Although India could not replicate the gold-medal performance from Stage 1 in Mexico, another podium finish underlines the team's status as one of the strongest compound units in world archery. The team had entered the final after producing one of their finest performances of the season, defeating powerhouse South Korea 231-228 in the semi-finals to guarantee themselves a medal.

While the gold slipped away in Madrid, a silver medal at the World Cup is another significant achievement for a team that has consistently delivered results at the highest level.

Prithika Pradeep enjoyed an exceptional day by contributing to India's team silver before progressing to the compound women's individual semi-finals. The young Indian compound archer defeated Spain's Andrea Munoz by 140-135 in the quarter-finals with a composed and clinical performance. Prithika maintained impressive consistency throughout the five-end contest, producing accurate shooting under pressure to overcome the home favourite.

Her qualification for the semi-finals ensures that India remains firmly in contention for another individual medal in Madrid. The performance further reinforces Prithika's rapid rise over the past year as she continues to establish herself alongside experienced names like Jyothi Surekha Vennam among India's leading compound archers.

India also celebrated success in the recurve category, where Kirti Bhakat produced an impressive display to reach the women's semi-finals. Facing Spain's Elia Canales, Kirti controlled the match confidently and secured a 6-2 victory under the set scoring system. The Indian archer displayed excellent composure throughout the contest, consistently finding the gold and avoiding major errors despite competing against a local favourite.

The victory guarantees Kirti a place among the last four and keeps India's hopes alive for a recurve medal in Madrid. Reaching the semi-finals of a World Cup stage represents another important milestone for the young Indian, who continues to gain valuable experience against the world's elite.

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While the women enjoyed another successful day, India's men's campaign came to an end in the individual quarter-finals. In the recurve men's event, Dhiraj Bommadevara saw his impressive run halted at the quarter-final stage. The Paris Olympian had produced strong performances earlier in the competition but could not progress into the medal rounds.

Similarly, Rishabh Yadav exited in the compound men's quarter-finals, ending India's hopes in that discipline. Despite the disappointments, both archers demonstrated their ability to compete deep into major international tournaments, providing valuable ranking points and experience ahead of future events.

The Madrid World Cup has once again highlighted India's strength in compound archery. After winning gold earlier this season in Mexico, the women's team has now added silver, confirming their remarkable consistency across the World Cup circuit. The combination of experienced campaigners like Jyothi Surekha Vennam and emerging talents such as Prithika Pradeep and Chikitha Taniparthi continues to provide India with one of the strongest women's compound teams in international archery.

With the Archery Premier League set to return later this year and international competitions continuing throughout the season, performances like these provide further confidence ahead of major championships.

India's campaign in Madrid is far from over. With Kirti Bhakat and Prithika Pradeep progressing to their respective semi-finals, the country remains in contention for individual medals in both recurve and compound events. Reaching the last four of a World Cup is a significant achievement in itself, but both archers will now have the opportunity to fight for gold and further strengthen India's medal tally.

Their performances also underline the growing depth within Indian archery, where multiple athletes are consistently challenging the world's best across both disciplines.

The Hyundai Archery World Cup Stage 4 has once again demonstrated India's emergence as one of the leading nations in world archery.

The compound women's team's silver medal, combined with individual semi-final appearances for Kirti Bhakat and Prithika Pradeep, reflects the country's growing consistency across international competitions.

While the men's individual campaign ended in the quarter-finals, India's overall performance in Madrid continues to reinforce the strength of its archery programme. With medal opportunities still remaining in the individual events, the Indian contingent will now look to finish the tournament strongly and add more podium finishes before the World Cup stage concludes.