Below is a recap of the most recent World Archery event—the fourth stage of the 2025 Hyundai Archery World Cup held in Madrid, Spain—and how it feeds into the upcoming season finale and World Archery Championships.
🎯 Madrid 2025 – A Historic Stage
- Debut on the circuit: Madrid hosted its first-ever Hyundai Archery World Cup stage from July 8–13, 2025, at Vallehermoso Stadium and the Explanada Puente del Rey.
- Massive participation: A record-breaking 336 archers from 49 nations competed, making it the largest turnout of the season.
- Last‑chance qualifier: It was the final opportunity to earn a spot at the prestigious World Cup Final set for October in Nanjing, China.
🏹 Highlights & Memorable Moments
- World record: Indian stars Jyothi Surekha Vennam and Rishabh Yadav shattered the mixed compound team world record with 1,431 points and 70 Xs, surpassing the previous 1,429-mark.
- Indian team success: Vennam secured a hat-trick of medals, while the women’s compound squad captured silver—demonstrating India’s growing dominance.
- Recurve action: The stage saw fierce competition, especially among defending champions like Kim Woojin (men’s recurve) and Li Jiaman (women’s recurve), with the women’s compound title absent defending gold medalist Sara Lopez.
🔥 Recap of Previous Stage – Antalya (June 2025)
To put Madrid in context, Antalya—the third stop—featured standout performances, such as:
- Men’s individual recurve: Marcus D’Almeida of Brazil displayed dominance with a 6–0 victory to claim gold.
- Women’s recurve: Olympic champion Lim Sihyeon led a South Korean 1–2 finish, defeating previous titleholder An San.
- Compound women: Madhura Dhamangaonkar of India captured her first individual World Cup gold, completing a medal hat-trick.
📅 Looking Ahead: Gwangju & Nanjing
World Archery Championships (Sept 2025, Gwangju, Korea)
The season culminates in the four-yearly pinnacle event—featuring elite recurve and compound archers. Selection spots were secured earlier by finalists via USA trials in Chula Vista.
World Cup Final (Oct 18–19, 2025 in Nanjing, China)
Stage winners and top-ranking athletes from all four stages qualify to battle for a share of the CHF 400,000 prize purse.
🔍 Takeaways
- Madrid’s influence: As a debut stop, it played a pivotal role in shaping the season’s finales—also doubling as prep for Gwangju.
- Indian surge: Records and medals highlight India’s rising stature, particularly in compound team events.
- Elite duels: Notable climaxes, like D’Almeida’s Antalya gold and Korean dominance in recurve, underscore the depth of competition.
📌 What’s Next?
- Mid‑September: Hyundai World Archery Championships in Gwangju—where national pride and Olympic qualification overlap.
- Mid‑October: Hyundai World Cup Final in Nanjing—closure for an intense season and platform for record-breakers.
In summary, the final outdoor stage in Madrid delivered thrilling performances, historic records, and high stakes, setting the tone for both the World Championships and the season-ending finale. As archers shift focus to Gwangju, expect fierce battles and precision shooting at the highest level.