India made history in archery on September 7, 2025, by winning its very first gold medal in the men’s compound team event at the World Archery Championships in Gwangju, South Korea. In a thrilling final, the Indian team, consisting of Rishabh Yadav, Aman Saini, and Prathamesh Fuge, narrowly defeated France with a score of 235–233, marking a significant milestone for Indian compound archery. This gold medal victory was a bright spot in an otherwise mixed tournament for India, especially after the women’s team was eliminated early, ending their impressive eight-year medal streak.
The Historic Final: India vs France
• Up against a strong French team made up of Nicolas Girrard, Jean Philippe Boulch, and Francois Dubois, the Indian trio showed incredible poise. Even though they were behind 57–59 after the first end, India made a remarkable comeback, scoring six perfect 10s in the second end to tie the match at 117–117.
• The third end saw both teams locked at 176–176, but India’s calmness in the final end, particularly Fuge’s six consecutive 10s, including the crucial last arrow, clinched the victory and secured India’s first-ever gold in this event at a World Championship.
Behind the Scenes: Tactical Changes & Coaching Impact
- The turning point came in the round of 16 against Australia, where India was struggling until a change in shooting order by coach Jiwanjot Singh Teja reversed their fortunes. The new sequence—Yadav opening, Saini going second, and Fuge finishing—proved unbeatable, leading them past giants like USA and Turkey en route to the final.
- Coach Teja attributed the team’s success to the rising standards of domestic archery in India, noting how junior archers now consistently shoot 350–355/360, a leap from past benchmarks.
Star Performers: Rishabh Yadav and Prathamesh Fuge
- Rishabh Yadav, India’s top individual qualifier, had a stellar tournament, also winning a silver in the mixed team event.
- Prathamesh Fuge, the lowest-ranked among the trio, overcame early jitters to shoot a flawless six 10s, showing exceptional mental strength.
- Yadav, mentored by veteran Abhishek Verma, made his debut in 2018 and has since emerged as a key player, recently winning his first World Cup medal in Shanghai.
Mixed Team Silver for India
- Earlier in the day, Rishabh Yadav and Jyothi Surekha Vennam claimed silver in the mixed team final, narrowly losing 155–157 to Netherlands’ world number one Mike Schloesser and Sanne de Laat.
- Despite a strong start and a perfect finish, India couldn’t overcome a mid-match slump. This marked India’s return to the mixed team podium after missing out at the 2023 Berlin edition.
- With the compound mixed team event set to debut at the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles, India’s showing is promising for the future.
Disappointment for the Women’s Team
The women’s compound team, which had medaled at every World Championship since 2017, exited in the pre-quarterfinals, ending their impressive streak. This remains the only blot on an otherwise positive campaign for the Indian contingent in Gwangju.
