Indian archers Dhiraj Bommadevara and Kumkum Mohod clinched dual recurve gold medals at the Archery World Cup Stage 3 in Antalya. The third-seeded pair stunned world-leading South Korea 5-1 in the mixed team final, before Dhiraj completed a historic golden double by winning the men’s individual crown 7-3.
ANTALYA, Turkiye — Indian archery established a historic benchmark on Sunday, June 14, 2026, as the nation's recurve contingent clinched two gold medals at the Archery World Cup Stage 3 in Antalya. Olympian Dhiraj Bommadevara emerged as the star of the tournament, completing a golden double by winning his maiden individual World Cup title just hours after partnering with 17-year-old Kumkum Mohod to capture the mixed team crown.
The dual podium finishes marked India’s first men’s individual recurve gold at a World Cup stage in five years, signaling a dramatic shift in the global archery hierarchy as the team transitions into final preparations for the upcoming Asian Games.
Historic Mixed Team Triumph Over World Champions
The day began with a technical masterclass from the third-seeded Indian mixed recurve duo of Dhiraj Bommadevara and Kumkum Mohod. Facing the top-seeded South Korean powerhouse pair of Oh Ye-jin and Kim Je-deok the latter a multiple-time Olympic gold medalist the Indian pair displayed remarkable composure to log a decisive 5-1 victory in the final.
India took immediate control of the match, edging out the opening two sets by identical 37-36 scores to build a commanding 4-0 advantage. South Korea attempted a fightback in the third set, matching India arrow-for-arrow to end deadlocked at 39-39. However, that single split point was enough for the Indian duo to secure the match and standard division points. The 24-year-old Dhiraj anchored the victory, shooting consecutive perfect 10s with his final two arrows to close out the contest.
With this triumph, Dhiraj and Kumkum became only the third Indian mixed recurve pair to win gold at a World Cup stage, following Deepika Kumari and Atanu Das (Paris 2021) and Tarundeep Rai and Ridhi Phor (Antalya 2022).
Dhiraj Bommadevara Completes the Golden Double
Hours after the mixed team celebration, Dhiraj returned to the shooting line to script an even bigger milestone in the men's individual recurve event. The Indian Army archer, currently ranked 18th in the world, faced Paris Olympics bronze medalist Lee Woo-seok of South Korea in the gold-medal match.
Dhiraj initiated a blistering start, capturing the first two sets 30-29 and 29-28 to storm into an elite 4-0 lead. After a level 27-27 draw in the third set, Lee launched a minor counterattack to narrow the margin to 5-3. Unfazed by the pressure, Dhiraj concluded the championship match in the fifth set by shooting three straight 10s, including an inner-ring X, to wrap up a historic 7-3 victory.
Earlier in the semi-finals, Dhiraj pulled off a brilliant comeback against Germany’s Moritz Wieser. Trailing 3-1, the Indian capitalised on a critical mistake by Wieser in the final set to seal a 6-4 victory, booking his spot in his first individual World Cup final.
Technical Performance Metrics: Recurve Finals Stage
The following matrix illustrates the arrow-by-arrow sets that determined the historic gold medal results for the Indian contingent on Sunday:
| Event & Match | Competitor Pairings | Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Set 4 | Final Score |
| Recurve Mixed Team Gold | India vs. South Korea | 37-36 | 37-36 | 39-39 | — | 5-1 (India Gold) |
| Men's Individual Gold | D. Bommadevara vs. Lee Woo-seok | 30-29 | 29-28 | 27-27 | 26-28 * | 7-3 (India Gold) |
*Note: Individual set scores track set-point accumulation rather than gross target values, with Dhiraj sealing the final set with three consecutive 10s.
Official Sources Section
The competition parameters, technical scores, and official rankings featured in this tournament report are sourced explicitly from database communications released by World Archery, the international governing body for the sport. Match verification and regional selections are cross-referenced with announcements from the Archery Association of India (AAI) and verified athlete portfolios hosted by the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
Quote Section
"According to officials from the national coaching staff in Antalya, the recurring triumphs over high-tier South Korean squads represent a massive psychological breakthrough for Indian recurve archery, validating months of centralized training modifications."
Why It Matters
The double gold in Antalya provides a significant boost for India's broader Olympic-cycle sports ecosystem. Historically, Indian archers have excelled in the non-Olympic compound discipline while struggling to find consistent podium finishes in the Olympic-recognized recurve category. Dhiraj's individual victory the first since 2021 and the mixed team's victory over the world's most dominant archery nation prove that India now possesses the world-class depth and composure required to challenge for podium places at major international multi-sport events.
Key Facts at a Glance
Golden Double: Dhiraj Bommadevara leaves Antalya with two gold medals (Men's Individual and Mixed Team Recurve).
The Mixed Duo: 17-year-old Kumkum Mohod secured her second straight World Cup gold medal of the 2026 season.
Elite Upset: The Indian pair overthrew the world's top-seeded South Korean duo with a clinical 5-1 margin.
Individual Milestone: Dhiraj defeated Olympic bronze medalist Lee Woo-seok 7-3 to end a five-year individual gold drought for Indian men.
FAQ Section
1. How many Archery World Cup stages are played before the finals?
The international circuit consists of four distinct stages, with Antalya serving as Stage 3. The fourth leg will be hosted in Madrid in July before athletes move to the World Cup Finals.
2. What is Kumkum Mohod's other major achievement this season?
Prior to the mixed team gold in Antalya, the 17-year-old sensation won gold at Stage 2 in Shanghai as a member of the Indian women's recurve team alongside Deepika Kumari and Ankita Bhakat.
3. Why did India's compound archers not win medals in Antalya?
India's compound team fell just short of a podium finish. The men's compound team lost a tight bronze medal match to Mexico by a single point, 233-232, while the women's compound team exited in the second round.
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