Dhiraj Bommadevara and Kumkum Anil Mohod may be one of the youngest pairs in the recurve mixed team category at Antalya 2026 – the third stage of this year’s World Cup – but their rawness was no obstacle as they sailed through to the gold medal match on Thursday.
The pair are completely new this season and had only shot one match before in Puebla [stage one], where they succumbed to a disappointing second-round 5-3 loss to Brazil.
Their run in Türkiye was far longer than in Mexico, however, as they conceded only four set points throughout the afternoon session, beating Denmark 6-0, USA 6-2 and then Germany 6-2 to book Sunday’s final against Korea.
It will be the nation’s first gold medal match at a World Cup in recurve mixed team since 2022, which also happened to be in Antalya when Ridhi and Tarundeep Rai squeaked past Great Britain’s Bryony Pitman and Alex Wise in a shoot-off 5-4.
“It’s only possible because of our team, [it means a lot] especially because over many times since past few World Cups we’ve been having a hard time,” said Bommadevara, who has two World Cup mixed team bronzes to his name [Shanghai and Antalya 2024]. “We are doing well, we are shooting well, but it’s like just the tiny things. You can say luck was not on our side, but luckily from now on I think luck is on our side.”
“We did well, and most importantly also today when we had the men’s team match, we lost in the shoot-off. We shot pretty well, but we just lost by inches and the same happened at the previous two World Cups, but the good part is we didn’t lose hope and we are continuing what we are doing.”
“Also, I really would like to thank my seniors, Atanu [Das] and Tarundeep. They’ve taught me many things like how to make the team stronger, how to have those conversations, everything, so I’m so lucky to have a team with me and with this result, I think we are happy.”
Whilst it is a different team that took gold in 2022, there is a similarity to be drawn.
