India's Compound Slump Meets Its Biggest Test in Madrid

From seven golds across four World Cup stages in 2023 to a single bronze so far in 2026 — that's how steep India's compound collapse has been. The low point hit in Antalya last month, when the entire compound contingent came home empty-handed. None of the Asian Games-bound archers even reached a podium. New head coach Dave Cousins, a 49-year-old American with world titles across outdoor, indoor, field, 3D, and World Games disciplines, takes charge of his first international assignment with the squad in Madrid. He's got a contract running through the LA Games, where compound archery makes its Olympic debut.

The absences hurt. Ojas Deotale — reigning Asian Games champion and Hangzhou triple gold medallist — didn't make the Asian Games squad. Neither did world champion Aditi Swami or team gold medallist Parneet Kaur. Jyothi Surekha Vennam, India's women's spearhead, hasn't won an individual World Cup gold since Shanghai 2024. And with Abhishek Verma gone from the men's side, Sahil Jadhav, Kushal Dalal, and Thirumuru Ganesh Mani Ratnam carry the load — promising, but inconsistent against the elite.

Recurve is a different story. Dhiraj Bommadevara beat Olympic bronze medallist Lee Woo-seok of Korea 7-3 in Antalya to claim his first individual World Cup gold. He leads the men's charge in Madrid alongside Neeraj Chauhan, Yashdeep Bhoge, and Atanu Das. The women's side — Ankita Bhakat, Kumkum Mohod, Kirti Sharma — struggled in Antalya but are building. Deepika Kumari competes only as an individual fourth member here, so Ankita shoulders the team.