India outshines South Korea, China with best-ever performance in Continental archery

India delivered a landmark performance at the 2025 Asian Archery Championships held in Dhaka, Bangladesh, from November 8 to 14, achieving its best-ever results at the continental tournament. With a total of 10 medals, six gold, three silver and one bronze, the Indian contingent finished at the top of the overall medal tally, surpassing Asian archery giants South Korea and China. The achievement marked 6 golds . a significant milestone in India’s growing presence in international archery, reflecting the progress made in both recurve and compound categories over the past decade.

One of the most celebrated moments came when India’s men’s recurve team, meaning the three male recurve archers’ combined performance, beat all other countries’ teams. (The men’s recurve team is a team event in archery where a country’s male archers compete together using recurve bows, the type used in the Olympics. Typically, the team consists of three archers, and each shoots arrows individually. Their scores are combined to form the team’s total, which determines the outcome in matches against other countries. While each archer’s performance is important, the medal is awarded to the team as a whole, reflecting the collective effort and coordination of all members) secured the gold medal, ending an 18-year drought since their previous triumph in 2007. The team displayed remarkable consistency and discipline throughout the knockouts, ultimately delivering a composed and confident performance in the final. The victory not only added a crucial gold to India’s tally but also symbolized the resurgence of the country’s recurve discipline, which had long been overshadowed by the compound category’s success.

The individual recurve events also brought India two of its most significant wins. Rising archer Dhiraj Bommadevara clinched the men’s recurve individual gold, reaffirming his status as one of the nation’s most promising talents. His steady improvement on the global circuit over the past two years has been closely observed by coaches, and his performance in Dhaka highlighted his mental composure and technical maturity. Similarly, in the women’s recurve category, Ankita Bhakat secured the individual gold medal, showcasing exceptional precision in a highly competitive field. Her victory added momentum to India’s recurve dominance at the event and reflected her consistent form throughout the season.

In the compound category, India’s campaign was led by the exceptional performance of Jyothi Surekha Vennam, who once again demonstrated why she is considered one of Asia’s best compound archers. Jyothi secured three gold medals — in the women's individual compound, women’s team compound, and mixed team compound events — delivering the most successful individual performance by an Indian archer at the Asian Championships. Her mastery over pressure situations and her consistency in crucial moments played a decisive role in India’s ascent to the top of the medal standings.

The depth of India’s archery talent was further evident through additional podium finishes in team events. Although the compound and recurve teams faced stiff competition from established Asian powers, India maintained steady performances across both categories. Coaches have credited this success to improved training methodologies, advanced equipment support, and enhanced sports science backing introduced in recent years.

Archery Association of India (AAI) officials noted that the Dhaka performance reflects the results of targeted efforts to strengthen the national pipeline. Over the past few years, initiatives have been launched to identify young archers from rural and tribal regions, provide international training exposure, and conduct centralized camps with foreign expertise. These efforts have begun yielding results, as evidenced by the more balanced contributions from both senior and emerging athletes.

India’s dominance in Dhaka also signals a shifting competitive landscape in Asian archery. While South Korea and China have traditionally been the leading forces in the region, India’s consistent rise has created a new triangle of competition. The 2025 results which saw India surpass both countries are likely to influence seeding dynamics in upcoming World Cup stages and continental rankings.

The momentum gained in Dhaka is expected to carry forward into preparations for upcoming major events, including the 2026 Asian Games and future World Championships. Analysts believe India now possesses the depth and structure necessary to sustain high-level performances across formats. With a blend of experience, youth, and improved technical support, the Indian archery contingent is being seen as a serious contender on the global stage.

For India’s archers, the Dhaka outing represented not just a medal tally but a reaffirmation of long-term commitment, strategy, and resilience. As the medals were tallied and the national anthem played multiple times at the Bangladeshi venue, it became evident that the event was a defining chapter for Indian archery one that sets the tone for future international success.