Deepika Kumari Clinches Bronze at Archery World Cup Stage 2

India’s top archer, Deepika Kumari, secured a bronze medal at the Archery World Cup Stage 2 held in Shanghai on May 11, 2025. After a tough semifinal loss to world No. 1 Lim Sihyeon, Deepika displayed remarkable resilience and composure to defeat Korea’s Kang Chae Young 7-3 in the bronze medal playoff. This victory brought India’s medal tally at the event to six, further establishing the country’s prowess in archery.

Why in News?

The news highlights Deepika Kumari’s impressive comeback after her semifinal defeat, where she clinched a bronze medal in a high-pressure match. This marks a significant achievement for India in the sport of archery, where Kumari’s performance adds to the country’s growing success on the global stage, especially in the recurve archery category.

Key Highlights

• Event: Archery World Cup Stage 2, Shanghai (May 2025)
• Medal: Bronze
• Opponent in Semifinal: Lim Sihyeon (World No. 1, Korea)
• Opponent in Bronze Playoff: Kang Chae Young (Korea)
• Score in Bronze Playoff: Deepika Kumari defeated Kang Chae Young 7-3

Score Breakdown

• First set: 27-27 (tie)
• Second set: 28-27 (Deepika leads 3-1)
• Third set: 30-27 (Kang equalizes to 3-3)
• Fourth set: Deepika shoots a perfect 30 to take a 5-3 lead
• Final set: Deepika shoots 29, Kang scores 28 to seal victory.

Background and Significance

• Deepika Kumari, India’s most decorated archer, demonstrated her skill and mental fortitude by overcoming the pressure in the bronze medal match.
• Her semifinal defeat to world No. 1 Lim Sihyeon, though disappointing, was a repeat of their encounter at the 2023 Yecheon World Cup, where Kumari was similarly eliminated in the same stage.
• However, Kumari’s comeback against Kang Chae Young, a former world champion, secured a much-needed podium finish for India.
• This achievement is particularly significant as India has been showing increasing success in archery, especially in compound archery. Kumari’s medal adds to the overall tally for India, which has been bolstered by the impressive performances of the country’s compound archers, including Madhura Dhamangankar’s triple-medal haul.

India’s Medal Tally

• Total: 6 medals
• From Compound Events: 5 medals, including a triple-medal performance from Madhura Dhamangankar.
• Recurve Section: Deepika Kumari’s bronze.
• India’s performance in the Archery World Cup has gained global recognition, and Deepika’s strong showing in the bronze medal playoff underscores the increasing depth of India’s archery talent.