Producing one of the finest performances of his international career, Sahil Jadhav clinched his maiden Archery World Cup 2026 Stage 2 medal after defeating Martin Damsbo in the bronze-medal playoff of the men’s individual compound event in Shanghai on Saturday.
The 25-year-old Indian archer delivered a composed display to secure a 147-144 victory and hand India its lone podium finish in the compound events at Stage 2 of the tournament. After trailing 30-29 following the opening end, Jadhav mounted a steady comeback across the remaining ends to seal an impressive win.
Jadhav’s path to the podium included a dramatic quarter-final victory over Austria’s Nico Wiener, the 2021 world champion. The Indian edged the contest in a shoot-off after both archers were tied at 147.
However, Jadhav narrowly missed out on a place in the final after suffering a 147-145 defeat to reigning world champion Nicolas Girard in the semi-finals.
India’s compound campaign otherwise proved disappointing compared to last year’s dominant outing in Shanghai, where the contingent had returned with five medals.
Kushal Dalal exited in the quarter-finals, while former world champion Ojas Deotale bowed out in the round of 16 in the men’s individual compound category.
In the women’s individual event, defending Shanghai champion Madhura Dhamangaonkar suffered a 148-144 defeat to Alexis Ruiz in the round of 32.
Aditi Swami emerged as India’s best performer in the women’s compound competition before losing to Lisell Jaatma in the quarter-finals. Jaatma had earlier knocked out India’s top-ranked compound archer Jyothi Surekha Vennam in the round of 16.
India’s women’s compound team campaign also ended in the quarter-finals following a 233-227 defeat to Turkiye.
Meanwhile, in the mixed compound team event, set to make its Olympic debut at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics, the Indian pairing of Swami and Deotale exited in the quarter-finals against the American duo of Ruiz and James Lutz.
India still remains in medal contention in the recurve events, with Simranjeet Kaur advancing to the women’s individual semi-finals, while the Indian women’s recurve team will face China in the gold-medal clash on Sunday.