Dhiraj Bommadevara sets Asian Games recurve qualification record in Okazaki City
Dhiraj Bommadevara set a new Asian Games men's recurve qualification record with 698 points to top the standings in Okazaki City on Saturday, September 26, 2026, fresh from his World Cup Final triumph. His score placed him clear of the field and secured the top seed in the individual qualification.
Dhiraj, ranked fourth in the world, produced a strong back half after shooting 348 in his first 36 arrows and adding 350 in the final 36 to finish 698 out of a possible 720. His total surpassed the previous Asian Games qualification mark of 690 set by Korea's Lee Woo Seok; Lee finished fourth with 687.
Korean Kim Je Deok took second in qualification with 693 while Chinese Taipei's Chin-Hun Tang was third on 692. Dhiraj's top finish gives him a bye into the second round of the 64-archer individual elimination draw; Lee Woo Seok could be a possible semifinal opponent if both progress, and Dhiraj holds a 2-1 head-to-head record against the Korean, who is ranked 19th. The 25-year-old Army archer will be aiming to improve on his quarterfinal exit at the Hangzhou Asian Games.
There was a surprise in the Korean contingent as Kim Woojin failed to reach the individual elimination phase, finishing third among Korea's archers and missing the cut because only the top two from each country advance to the 64-player draw. India's other recurve archers, Neeraj Chauhan and Yashdeep Bhoge, placed 18th and 25th with scores of 676 and 665 respectively, with Bhoge missing out on the knockout stage.
In the men's team qualification India finished second behind Korea and, as the second seed in the 32-team draw, received a bye into the pre-quarterfinals where they will face the Philippines; the team requires three wins to secure a medal. India had previously won a men's team silver at Hangzhou.
In the women's compound qualification 21-year-old Chikitha Taniparthi topped the field with 705 points from a maximum 720. Iran's Bita Asheghzadeh Oskouei was second on 704, with Korea's Park Jungyoon and Kang Yeonseo taking third and fourth.
Triple Asian Games gold medallist Jyothi Surekha Vennam was the second-best Indian in women's compound, finishing 13th to advance to elimination. Teenager Prithika Pradeep scored 695, finished third among Indian archers and therefore missed an individual berth. India secured the second seed in the women's compound team event behind China and will begin their campaign against Mongolia in the 16-team draw.
The women's recurve and men's compound qualification rounds are scheduled to begin in the second half of the session.
