Dhiraj Bommadevara’s father, Sravan Kumar, has expressed immense pride following his son’s monumental victory at the Archery World Cup Final. The young archer made history by securing the men’s individual title in Saltillo, Mexico, becoming the first Indian male archer to accomplish this feat at the prestigious season-ending event. Sravan Kumar highlighted the years of hard work and dedication that contributed to this success, sharing that Dhiraj dedicated six to seven hours daily for practice over the years.

According to Sravan Kumar, the family’s excitement was palpable upon receiving the news of Dhiraj’s championship. He remarked, “We were extremely happy when Dhiraj became a world champion. After 19 years, India won gold at the World Archery Championships.” His statement underscored the significant effort and commitment required to attain such a victory in a sport known for its high level of competition.

Family Members Highlight Dhiraj’s Dedication

Bommadevara Chandra Prakash, a family member, also recognised Dhiraj’s tenacity and discipline from an early age. He noted Dhiraj’s strong passion for archery and credited his supportive parents for nurturing his talents throughout his developmental years. Prakash remarked on Dhiraj’s early demonstrations of commitment, stating, “Dhiraj has been an outstanding and exceptional child from a very young age,” emphasising how his upbringing contributed to his success.

“His father’s and mother’s support has been monumental in shaping him into the person he is today,” Prakash added, illustrating the role family has played in Dhiraj’s journey. Dhiraj’s achievements serve as an inspiration not only to his family but also to aspiring athletes across India, showcasing the impact of perseverance and a solid support system.

Details of the Competition

Throughout the competition, Dhiraj displayed remarkable skill and composure, ultimately defeating Japan’s Nakanishi Junya in a closely contested gold medal match. The match culminated in a dramatic shoot-off, where Dhiraj’s ability to remain calm under pressure was evident. He secured victory by scoring a ten on his final attempt, which outperformed Nakanishi’s nine, marking a pivotal moment in his career.

With this latest victory, Dhiraj has become only the second Indian archer to win an individual title at the Archery World Cup Final. He joins the ranks of Dola Banerjee, who won the women’s recurve title back in Dubai in 2007. Dhiraj represented India solely at the 2026 World Cup Final, and his dominant performances throughout the tournament have set a new benchmark for Indian archery.

His journey to the gold medal began with a decisive 7-1 win against Olympic medallist Berkim Tümer of Türkiye in the quarter-finals. Following this, Dhiraj further solidified his position in the competition by vanquishing two-time Olympic silver medallist Jean-Charles Valladont of France, also by a score of 7-1 in the semi-finals. Each match demonstrated his superior skill level and determination to succeed.

The final match against Nakanishi was characterised by fierce rivalry, with neither archer able to dominate. The opening set concluded in a tie at 28-28, while Nakanishi momentarily took the lead by winning the second set 29-28. Dhiraj responded effectively by claiming the third set 29-28, but Nakanishi regained the advantage in the fourth set with a score of 30-28. The dramatic showdown reached its climax when Dhiraj managed to level the scores at 5-5, paving the way for his eventual victory.

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