Ziga Ravnikar sealed the 2025 Veronica’s Cup individual gold on Sunday afternoon, shooting a perfect score of 30 in the final end of the gold medal match.
The two-time Olympian was forced to mount a small comeback against Nicholas D’Amour after losing the opening set 10-9, in what was a high-quality recurve men’s final, to finish the match 6-4. Twelve 10s were dropped between the two across five sets, no doubt helped by pleasant conditions in Kamnik – unlike last year.
Although it was tight, USA’s D’Amour never looked fully in tune with his arrows and even adjusted his shooting process in the penultimate end, slowing down his aim before release.
Ravnikar didn’t change anything noticeably. His self-confidence helped him secure his first individual international gold on home Slovenian soil – and you could see what it meant to him.
“This match is what I have wanted to win for quite some time now,” said a beaming Ravnikar, who had earlier claimed silver in the recurve men’s team event. “I’ve said this many times that this is my favourite tournament that I go to every year, so it’s an incredible feeling, especially that last end of 30.”
It was also a triumphant return for Prathamesh Bhalchandra Fuge. The Taipei Open bronze medallist failed to make India’s compound main squad following national trials earlier this year and was therefore representing India’s B-team in Kamnik.
He may be a reserve this year, but his ability hasn’t diminished. He defeated Shamai Yamrom of Israel – who competed at the season’s first two stages of the Hyundai Archery World Cup in Central Florida and Shanghai –via shoot-off, further highlighting India’s incredible strength in depth in the compound discipline.
“My heart was going ‘boom, boom’,” chuckled Fuge when asked how he handle the his nerves in the tie-break.
Mikaella Moshe also of Israel and Estonia’s Meeri-Marita Paas won the recurve and compound women’s individual events
Rewatch the finals from the Veronica’s Cup on archery+.
