Asian Games: Dhiraj Bommadevara and Neeraj Chauhan Enter Recurve Quarterfinals
Dhiraj Bommadevara and Neeraj Chauhan secure spots in the Asian Games quarterfinals after thrilling victories in the recurve individual event.
India’s archery campaign received a massive boost at the Asian Games 2026 as Dhiraj Bommadevara and Neeraj Chauhan secured their places in the men's recurve individual quarterfinals. Both archers delivered impressive performances during the Round of 16 matches held in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, on Tuesday.
Dhiraj Bommadevara Holds Nerve Against Chinese Taipei
The top-seeded Dhiraj Bommadevara demonstrated why he is a favorite in the tournament. After a dominant Round of 32 performance where he defeated the Philippines' Girvin Garcia with a flawless 6-0 scoreline, Dhiraj faced a tougher challenge in the Round of 16 against Cheng Hsiang-Hui of Chinese Taipei.
While the match required more concentration than his previous outing, Dhiraj maintained his composure to win the contest 6-2. He is now set to face Uzbekistan's Amirkon Sadikov in the quarterfinals, scheduled for October 3.
Neeraj Chauhan Pulls Off Major Upset
The highlight of the day for the Indian contingent was undoubtedly Neeraj Chauhan’s stunning victory over South Korean powerhouse Kim Je Deok. Kim, a multiple Olympic medallist who had qualified second in the ranking round, was pushed to the limit by the Indian archer.
The match unfolded in high drama:
- Early Lead: Neeraj started aggressively, taking a 3-1 lead.
- The Comeback: Kim fought back brilliantly to level the score at 3-3.
- The Decider: After a tied set brought the score to 4-4, the match moved to a final deciding set.
- Victory: Neeraj showed immense mental strength under pressure to clinch the final set and win 6-4.
Following this monumental upset, Neeraj will move on to face Bhutan's Dorji Lam in the quarterfinals.
India's Multi-Sport Outlook: Athletics and Boxing
While the archery success shines, the Indian contingent remains busy across various disciplines. The athletics programme holds significant medal potential, with Gulveer Singh aiming for his third medal of the Games in the men's 5000m final, following his silver successes in the 1500m and 10,000m events. Avinash Sable will also feature in the 5000m race.
In the boxing ring, India has guaranteed at least two bronze medals as three athletes have reached the semi-finals:
- Parveen Hooda: Facing China's Li Shu in the women's 65kg category.
- Ankush Panghal: Taking on Uzbekistan's Fazliddin Erkinboev in the men's 80kg category.
- Narender Berwal: Competing against Kazakhstan's Aibek Oralbay in the men's +90kg category.
On a somber note, India's surfing journey concluded as Kishore Kumar Anbarasu lost his men's shortboard quarterfinal to the Philippines' Toby Espejon, finishing with a total score of 5.37 against Espejon's 8.53.