Stage 3 of the 2026 Hyundai Archery World Cup in Antalya, Turkiye, delivered one of the most compelling recurve performances of the season. Twenty-four-year-old Dhiraj Bommadevara didn’t just step onto the podium—he completely took over the weekend, securing two gold medals in a single day.
For an archer who had previously collected four World Cup bronze medals, this was the ultimate breakthrough. It was a masterclass in process-driven execution, mental resilience, and clutch shooting against the absolute best in the world.
Here is a deep dive into how Dhiraj conquered the field, match by match, and what else unfolded in Antalya.
The Mixed Team Upset: Dethroning the Olympic Champions
The recurve mixed team final was always going to be a heavyweight clash. Dhiraj teamed up with 17-year-old rising star Kumkum Mohod to face off against the top-seeded South Korean duo of Kim Je-deok and Oh Ye-jin—both reigning Olympic champions.
Beating a Korean squad spearheaded by Kim Je-deok requires flawless execution, but Dhiraj and Kumkum displayed maturity far beyond their years, ultimately cruising to a 5-1 victory.
Set-by-Set Breakdown (5-1):
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Set 1 (37-36, India): India gained an early upper hand when Kim Je-deok uncharacteristically dropped an arrow into the 7-ring (later upgraded to an 8 upon measurement review). Kumkum responded with pure confidence. In a tight finish, a line call review upgraded Kumkum's final arrow to a 10, securing a one-point set victory and two critical set points.
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Set 2 (37-36, India): The pressure mounted. Halfway through the set, the teams were deadlocked at 18-18. Kumkum stepped up and delivered a vital 9, leaving Dhiraj needing a perfect 10 to seal the set. The Army archer split the center without hesitation, pushing India’s lead to a commanding 4-0.
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Set 3 (39-39, Tie): South Korea’s backs were against the wall, and they responded by posting a massive 39 points. India had to match it to avoid dropping the set. Kumkum drilled a flawless 10. Dhiraj’s final arrow was initially scored as a 9, but upon close review, the judge upgraded it to a 10. The 39-39 tie awarded one set point to each team, officially closing the match out 5-1.
This marked only the third time an Indian mixed recurve team has ever won gold at a World Cup stage, and it was India's second victory over South Korea in just two months.
The Men's Individual Final: Closing the Door on Lee Woo-seok
Just a few hours after the mixed team triumph, Dhiraj was back in the box for the men's individual gold medal match. His opponent? South Korea’s Paris Olympic bronze medalist, Lee Woo-seok.
While the mixed team match was about capitalizing on opponent mistakes, the individual final was a display of pure, unadulterated shot-making.
The Match Progression (7-3):
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Sets 1 & 2: Dhiraj came out firing on all cylinders. He opened with a perfect 30 in the first set (30-29) and followed it up with a 29 in the second (29-28), instantly putting the Korean on his heels with a 4-0 lead.
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Set 3: Both archers found the wind challenging, splitting the set 27-27. Dhiraj was now up 5-1, just one point away from gold.
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Set 4: Lee Woo-seok proved why he is an Olympic medalist. He found his rhythm, dropping two 10s and a 9 to win the set 29-27 after Dhiraj missed the 10-ring. The gap closed to 5-3.
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Set 5: Momentum shifts in archery are deadly, but Dhiraj refused to let it slip. Leading 5-3, he executed one of the most clutch sets of his career, drilling three consecutive 10s—including a dead-center X—to slam the door shut and take the match 7-3.
This victory marked India’s first men's individual recurve gold at a World Cup stage since Atanu Das in 2021.
Check the event results at Ianseo.
