Dhiraj Bommadevara and Kumkum Anil Mohod may be one of the youngest pairs in the recurve mixed team field at Antalya 2026, but their inexperience proved no obstacle as India sailed into the gold medal match on Thursday.
The duo is new this season and had only shot one match together before Antalya, suffering a 5-3 second-round defeat to Brazil at the opening stage of the Hyundai Archery World Cup in Puebla.
Their run in Türkiye was a different story.
India conceded only four set points throughout the day, defeating Denmark 6-0, USA 6-2 and Germany 6-2 to book a place in Sunday’s final against Korea.
It marks India’s first Hyundai Archery World Cup recurve mixed team gold medal match since Antalya 2022, when Ridhi and Tarundeep Rai edged Great Britain’s Bryony Pitman and Alex Wise in a shoot-off.
“It’s only possible because of our team,” said Bommadevara, who already owns two Hyundai Archery World Cup mixed team bronze medals from Shanghai and Antalya in 2024. “Over many World Cups recently we’ve had a hard time.”
“We are shooting well, but sometimes it’s 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.”
The Indian archer also reflected on the narrow recurve men’s team shoot-off defeat earlier in the day.
“We shot pretty well, but we lost by inches, and the same happened at the previous two World Cups,” he added. “The good part is we didn’t lose hope and we are continuing what we are doing.”
Bommadevara also credited senior teammates Atanu Das and Tarundeep Rai for helping guide the younger generation.
“They’ve taught me many things, like how to make the team stronger and how to have those conversations,” he said. “I’m so lucky to have this team with me and with this result I think we are happy.”
