Amidst a disappointing outing for India’s compound archers, Sahil Jadhav clinched a bronze medal in the men’s individual compound event at the Archery World Cup 2026 Stage 2 in Shanghai, China, on Saturday.
The 25-year-old Indian archer defeated veteran Martin Damsbo of Denmark 147-144 in the bronze match for his maiden Archery World Cup medal. Sahil Jadhav was trailing 30-29 at the end of the first set but gradually recovered through the next four to secure the victory.
Earlier in the quarterfinals, the eighth-seeded Indian edged Austria’s Nico Wiener, the 2021 world champion, in a shoot-off after both archers were tied at 147.
However, Sahil went down 147-145 against Nicolas Girard of France, the reigning world champion, in the semifinals to enter the bronze medal playoff.
Sahil had beaten Indian veteran Abhishek Verma in the third round and Ruven Flüß of Germany 149-146 in the round of 16.
India had won five medals last year
Sahil’s bronze was India’s only medal in the compound archery events at the Archery World Cup 2026 in Shanghai. India won five compound medals in Shanghai last year.
Kushal Dalal’s campaign ended in the quarterfinals while former world champion Ojas Deotale lost in the round of 16.
The Indian men’s compound team, which won the gold in Shanghai last year, failed to clinch a medal this year after losing in the quarterfinals.
In the women’s team compound archery competition, India crashed out in the quarterfinals after going down to Turkiye 233-227.
Madhura Dhamangaonkar, who won the gold medal in Shanghai last year, lost to top seed Alexis Ruiz of the USA 148-144 in the round of 32.
Former world champion Aditi Swami was the top-performing Indian archer in the women’s individual category but lost in the quarterfinal to Lisell Jaatma of Estonia after a shoot-off.
Lisell Jaatma had also beaten India’s top-ranked archer Jyothi Surekha Vennam 148-147 in the round of 16.
In the mixed compound team event, which will make its Olympic debut at LA 2028, Aditi Swami and Ojas Deotale were beaten by the American pair of Alexis Ruiz and James Lutz in the quarterfinals.
India still have medal opportunities in recurve events on Sunday, with Simranjeet Kaur reaching the women’s individual semifinals and the Indian women’s recurve team set to face China in the gold medal match.
