For years, South Korea has been the gold standard in international archery. But on a memorable Sunday in Antalya, Türkiye, two Indian archers rewrote the script.

India’s Dhiraj Bommadevara and Kumkum Mohod produced a stunning display of precision and composure to defeat reigning Olympic champions South Korea and claim the recurve mixed team gold medal at the Archery World Cup Stage 3. Their impressive 5-1 victory over Oh Ye-jin and Kim Je-deok marked one of India’s most significant triumphs on the global archery stage this season.

A Final Worthy of Champions

The gold-medal clash was expected to be a fierce contest. Facing Kim Je-deok and Oh Ye-jin of South Korea, one of the strongest teams in world archery, the Indian duo remained calm under pressure and seized crucial moments. The opening set was a nail-biter, with India edging South Korea 37-36. The second set followed a similar pattern, as Dhiraj and Kumkum once again won by the slimmest of margins, 37-36, to establish a commanding 4-0 lead.

South Korea attempted a comeback in the third set, but both teams finished level at 39-39. The tie earned the Koreans a point, but it was not enough to stop India's charge to the title.

Dhiraj Delivers Under Pressure

With the finish line in sight, Dhiraj Bommadevara showcased why he is regarded as one of India's brightest archery talents. The 24-year-old Olympian fired perfect 10s with his final two arrows, ensuring India closed out the match in style.

His remarkable performance in Antalya did not stop there. Dhiraj also captured the men's individual recurve title, defeating South Korea’s Olympic bronze medallist Lee Woo-seok 7-3 in the final. The victory is widely regarded as the biggest achievement of his career so far.

Kumkum's Golden Season Continues

For Kumkum Mohod, the triumph adds another glittering chapter to an already impressive year. Last month, she was part of the Indian women’s recurve team that secured gold at the Archery World Cup Stage 2 in Shanghai.

That same Indian team had stunned South Korea—the 10-time Olympic champions—in the semifinals before going on to win gold, highlighting India's growing strength in world archery.

With this victory, Dhiraj and Kumkum became only the third Indian mixed recurve pair to win a World Cup gold medal. Deepika Kumari and Atanu Das achieved the feat in Paris in 2021, while Tarundeep Rai and Ridhi Phor followed with gold in Antalya in 2022. Now, Dhiraj and Kumkum have added their names to that distinguished list, proving once again that Indian archery is capable of taking down the very best in the world.

As the tricolour soared in Antalya, it signalled more than just another medal, it announced India's arrival as a formidable force in international archery.