In a nail‑biter at Okazaki Chuo Sogo Park, Neeraj Chauhan edged Dhiraj Bommadevara 6‑4 to secure India’s bronze in the men’s recurve individual at the Asian Games 2026. The match, played Saturday, saw both archers lock horns in a five‑set thriller.
Chauhan opened the battle with a 29‑26 advantage, firing a 10, 9 and 10 while Bommadevara managed 7, 9 and 10. The second set flipped, Bommadevara taking a 28‑27 lead with a 10 and an X. Still tied at 2‑2, the third set swung to Bommadevara again, 29‑28, pushing him ahead 4‑2.
The turning point came in the fourth set. Chauhan unleashed a perfect 30—10, X and 10—while Bommadevara could only muster 28. That 2‑0 set leveled the score at 4‑4, setting the stage for a final showdown. In the decisive fifth set, Chauhan delivered under pressure, scoring 29 with two Xs, 9 and 9, while Bommadevara finished 28 with 8, 10 and 10.
Chauhan’s bronze not only sweetens India’s medal tally but also sets a high bar for the upcoming finals. The archer’s composure under fire signals he’s ready to tackle the next challenge in the Asian Games lineup.