Paris Olympics: What Are Indian Men's Archery Team's Medal Chances And Whom They Face in Quarterfinals?

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The archery events at the Paris Olympics 2024 kicked off on July 25 with the ranking rounds and the Indian men's archery team has already made a significant impact. Follow our elaborated Paris Olympics Live Coverage

Despite India never having won an Olympic medal in archery, this year's performance in the ranking rounds has positioned both the men's and women's teams for strong medal prospects, qualifying directly for the quarterfinals.

Men’s Team Performance

The Indian men’s recurve archery team comprises three talented archers: 40-year-old Tarundeep Rai, a seasoned four-time Olympian; 23-year-old Dhiraj Bommadevara, making his Olympic debut; and Pravin Jadhav, who is competing in his second Olympics after Tokyo 2020.

In the ranking round, the Indian men's team finished third with a combined score of 2013 points. This impressive performance secured them a direct spot in the quarterfinals alongside Korea, France, and China.

Ranking Round Highlights

Dhiraj Bommadevara emerged as the standout performer for the Indian team, finishing fourth in the men’s individual rankings with 681 points. This remarkable feat saw him surpass World No.3 Lee Wooseok of Korea, who finished fifth, and World No.4 Mete Gazoz of Turkey, who finished eighth.

Tarundeep Rai also delivered a strong performance, finishing 11th with 674 points, while Pravin Jadhav secured the 39th spot with 658 points. Collectively, their scores contributed to India’s third-place finish in the team rankings.

Quarterfinals Outlook

With a direct entry into the quarterfinals, India will face the winner of the Round of 16 encounter between Colombia and Turkey. Given their World No.6 ranking, Turkey is expected to prevail over the 16th-ranked Colombia. This sets up a potential clash with a formidable Turkish team in the quarterfinals.

Turkey’s lineup features Mete Gazoz, the World No.4 and individual gold medalist at Tokyo 2020. His teammates Berkim Tumer (World No.45) and Abdullah Yildirmis (World No.27) add depth to the squad. Despite India’s impressive World No.2 ranking, the match against Turkey will be a challenging one.

India's top-ranked archer Dhiraj Bommadevara (World No.12) will be crucial in this contest, supported by Tarundeep Rai (World No.31) and Pravin Jadhav (World No.114).

Medal Prospects

India’s direct qualification to the quarterfinals and their World No.2 ranking boost their chances of advancing further in the competition. One significant advantage is that they won’t face the top-ranked Korean team until a potential final matchup, increasing their likelihood of reaching the finals and securing a medal.

Should India overcome Turkey in the quarterfinals, they will likely face strong opposition in the semifinals. However, even if they lose in the semifinals, they will still have the opportunity to compete for a bronze medal.

Given their current form and the individual performances of the archers, India has a realistic chance of winning their first-ever Olympic medal in archery, be it gold, silver, or bronze.