Madrid, July 7 (UNI) Former world No. 1 Deepika Kumari and Asian Games gold medallist Jyothi Surekha Vennam will spearhead a revamped Indian contingent at the Archery World Cup 2025 Stage 4, beginning July 8, in Madrid.
The final leg of this year’s World Cup series will see 336 archers from 49 nations vie for top honours and the last remaining berths for the prestigious World Cup Final in Nanjing later this year. The competition will run until July 13.
India, fielding a 16-member squad, is aiming for a strong comeback after drawing a blank at the previous stage in Antalya. They had earlier bagged four medals, including a gold, in the opening leg in Auburndale and followed it up with a seven-medal haul in Shanghai.
Deepika Kumari, a four-time Olympian with 37 World Cup medals, returns to action after a bronze in Shanghai in the individual recurve. Veteran Tarundeep Rai rejoins the men’s recurve lineup, while young talents Gatha Khadake and Sharvari Shende, both 15, have earned spots in the women’s recurve team after impressive showings in the Pune trials.
Jyothi Surekha Vennam will lead the women’s compound team, joined by Parneet Kaur and 16-year-old debutant Prithika Pradeep. Prithika, who excelled in the selection trials, replaces seasoned names like Aditi Swami and Madhura Dhamangaonkar, who were left out of the Madrid leg.
Prominent archers missing from the squad include Olympian Atanu Das and Asian Games silver medallist Abhishek Verma.
The recurve men’s squad features Dhiraj Bommadevara, Neeraj Chauhan, Rahul, and Tarundeep Rai. The recurve women’s team includes Ankita Bhakat, Gatha Khadake, Deepika Kumari, and Sharvari Shende. The compound men’s line-up has Prathamesh Fuge, Priyansh, Aman Saini, and Rishabh Yadav, while Jyothi, Parneet, Prithika, and Chikitha Taniparthi form the women’s compound squad.
The event holds added significance as archers aim to secure qualification for the World Cup Final in Nanjing, scheduled for October. Champions from each World Cup stage earn automatic spots, with additional berths awarded based on World Cup Rankings. China, as host nation, holds guaranteed quotas.
India now looks to regain momentum and end the series on a high before the showdown in China.
