Dhiraj, Kumkum shines as India shocks Korea to win gold at World Archery Championships

Indian archers continued to make waves on the international circuit as Olympian Dhiraj Bommadevara and rising star Kumkum Mohod stunned powerhouse South Korea to win the mixed team archery gold medal at the Archery World Cup Stage 3 in Antalya on Sunday.

The Indian pair outclassed Olympic champions Kim Je-deok and Oh Ye-jin 5-1 (37-36, 37-36, 39-39) in a thrilling final, showing exceptional poise and precision against one of the sport’s most formidable combinations.

The result marked India’s second win over South Korea in just two months, underscoring the growing faith in the recurve camp ahead of the Asian Games later this year. The breakthrough follows the Indian women’s recurve team’s triumph in Shanghai last month, where Deepika Kumari, Kumkum Mohod and Ankita Bhakat defeated the Koreans en route to the title.

Despite facing a Korean side led by Tokyo Olympic mixed team champion Kim Je-deok, Dhiraj and 17-year-old Kumkum showed no signs of being intimidated. Competing in her first season of the Kumkum World Cup, she once again showed maturity beyond her years on the biggest stage.

INDIA ARE RECURVE MIXED TEAM CHAMPIONS

Indian mixed team stunned Olympic champions Korea 5-1 to win World Cup Stage 3 in Antalya

Dheeraj & Kumkum won the World Cup for India

THIS IS GREAT PEOPLE pic.twitter.com/tZYDNgoksp— The Khel India (@TheKhelIndia) June 14, 2026

AS DHIRAJ, KUMKUM HOLDS KOREA

India gained the upper hand in the opening set after Kim’s unexpected seven gave them an early opportunity. Kumkum responded with confidence before Dhiraj came through with crucial strokes as the Indians took the lead. A measurement review later improved Kumkum’s arrow to 10 while also revising Kim’s opening attempt to eight, helping India clinch the set 37-36.

The pressure on the Koreans increased in the second set. With both teams on 18 points at the halfway mark, Kumkum delivered a vital nine, leaving Dhiraj tasked with shooting a perfect 10. The Army archer seized the opportunity to split the middle to give India another close 37-36 set win and a commanding 4-0 advantage.

South Korea responded strongly in the third set, scoring 39 points and forcing India to deliver under pressure. Kumkum again produced a flawless 10 before Dhiraj’s last arrow, originally rated as a nine, was upgraded to a 10 on review. The resulting 39-39 draw was enough to seal the gold medal and spark celebrations in the Indian camp.

“It’s never over until it’s over, that’s our team motto,” Dhiraj said after the win. Kumkum echoed that confidence, saying that she only focused on the process and never worried about the opposition.

The triumph handed both archers their first mixed team gold at the World Championships and further underlined India’s growing stature in recurve archery.

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Issued by:

sabyasachi chowdhury

Published on:

14 Jun 2026 17:48 IST