Priyansh Wins World U-21 Compound Archery Competition

On July 8, Indian compound archer Priyansh bagged a gold medal in the ongoing World Archery Youth Championships in Limerick, Ireland. He decimated Slovenia’s Aljaz Brenk with a score of 147-141 in the under-21 men’s compound archery category.

The result bolstered India’s medal tally, shooting it up to nine medals, comprising five golds. 

Priyansh fought a neck-and-neck battle in the first round as Brenk levelled the Indian archer 29-all, with two arrows coming in proximity to the target. The Gold medalist came back strong in the second round with a perfect 30, denying Brenk of any chances. 

Before the fifth and final round, Priyansh had an advantage over his competitor as the score was 118-112. The game finished in the same fashion as it began, with both the archers shooting 29 each, sufficient for the Indian archer to clinch the gold in the U-21 world title in compound archery. 

Meanwhile, Aditi Gopichand Swami was instrumental in India’s fourth gold in the tournament. Competing in the under-18 women’s compound archery category, she defeated Leann Drake of the USA. She also smashed the under-18 compound women qualifying record at last month’s World Cup. 

Last month, Swami won a team bronze in Medellin, Columbia, on her senior debut at the World Cup. A year before, she also won an individual silver medal at the Asia Cup Leg 3 in Sharjah.

A 24-member contingent is fighting for glory at the World Archery Youth Championship in Limerick, Ireland, between July 3 and July 9. 

India’s under-21 squad is spearheaded by compound archers Prathamesh Jawkar and Pragati. Aditi Gopichand Swami is entrusted with the leadership of the U-18 contingent. 

India claimed 15 medals in the last edition of the competition held in Wroclaw, Poland, including 8 gold medals, reigning the top spot on the medal list.