India’s para archers enjoyed a strong penultimate day at the World Archery Para Series Stage III, with the men’s recurve and compound teams winning gold while the women’s recurve team secured silver.In the men’s compound team final, reigning world champion Toman Kumar and Shyam Sunder Swami defeated Iraq’s Abbas Kadhim and Anwer Aldawod 152-139 to claim the top prize.The recurve team of double Paralympic medallist Harvinder Singh and Vijay Sundi also finished on the highest step of the podium after beating Slovakia’s David Ivan and Denis Ivan 6-2.India’s women’s recurve team of Bhawna and Pooja, meanwhile, had to settle for silver after China won the final 6-0. The country also narrowly missed another medal in the women’s compound event, with Sheetal Devi and Payal Nag losing the bronze-medal playoff to China.
Toman and Swami deliver compound gold
Toman and Swami overcame a sluggish beginning to take control of the men’s compound final.The Indian pair managed only an 8 in the opening end but quickly raised their level. Their accuracy improved over the next 12 arrows, during which they dropped just five points.That consistency allowed the Indians to build a substantial advantage over their Iraqi opponents. They maintained their scoring pressure through the remainder of the contest to complete a convincing victory and secure the gold medal.
Harvinder leads recurve fightback
Harvinder and Sundi had to recover from an early setback before securing India’s second men’s team gold of the day.The Slovakian pair took the opening set 37-34 after India managed a 7 without finding a 10. The Indians responded immediately, producing stronger scores in the following sets.Harvinder, who won bronze at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics before becoming the first Indian archer to win Paralympic gold at Paris 2024, played a key role in India’s recovery.India moved ahead 4-2 after winning the third set 38-34, with the pair producing three 10s. They then held their nerve in the fourth set, winning it 35-31 to complete the 6-2 victory.
Bhawna and Pooja take silver
Bhawna and Pooja could not match China in the women’s recurve final, losing 0-6.China took the opening set 34-23 after India struggled with scores of 4, 5 and 6. The Indians improved in the second set, shooting three 8s and a 9, but still lost 33-35.The third set remained tight at 30-31, but India again struggled for consistency and failed to register a single 10 across the entire final.China did not produce its most clinical performance either, but India’s inconsistent arrow placement allowed the Chinese pair to retain their advantage and secure gold.
Sheetal and Payal miss bronze
Sheetal Devi and Payal Nag were also left without a medal after China’s Wang Huiting and Gao Fangxia won the women’s compound bronze-medal playoff.The Indian pair found it difficult to maintain their scoring level across the 16-arrow contest. Their strongest spell came in the second end, when they trailed by just one point at 73-74.However, a poor third end allowed China to open up a decisive gap. India could not recover from there and eventually had to settle for fourth place.With two golds and a silver on the penultimate day, India remain in contention for a strong finish at the World Archery Para Series Stage III.