India's recurve archers delivered a memorable morning at the Asian Games 2026 on Tuesday, with both Dhiraj Bommadevara and Neeraj Chauhan reaching the men's individual quarterfinals on Day 11 in Aichi-Nagoya.
Neeraj produced the standout result of the session, defeating South Korea's Kim Je Deok — described as a multiple Olympic medallist — 6-4 in a tense, closely fought encounter to book his place in the last eight. Holding his nerve in the decisive moments against one of the sport's most decorated competitors, Neeraj announced himself on the continental stage. Beating a decorated Korean archer is among the most demanding tasks in the sport, given South Korea's long dominance of Olympic and Asian archery.
Dhiraj, India's leading recurve man, was equally assured in his round-of-16 clash, beating Chinese Taipei's Cheng Hsiang-Hui 6-2 to advance.
Quarterfinal lineup
The two wins set up intriguing quarterfinal ties later on Tuesday. Dhiraj will face Uzbekistan's Amirkon Sadikov, while Neeraj takes on Bhutan's Dorji Lam, with both Indians now two wins away from a medal in the individual event.
The results cap a strong morning for India's archery contingent and keep alive the country's hopes of adding an archery medal to its Day 11 tally. With the quarterfinals scheduled later on Tuesday, Neeraj's giant-killing win over Kim has given the Indian camp a timely surge of momentum.
For Neeraj, the victory over a multiple Olympic medallist marks a career-defining result on the continental stage, while Dhiraj's composed progression underlines his status as one of the steadiest recurve archers in the Indian squad.
Sources: Outlook India
Neeraj produced the standout result of the session, defeating South Korea's Kim Je Deok — described as a multiple Olympic medallist — 6-4 in a tense, closely fought encounter to book his place in the last eight. Holding his nerve in the decisive moments against one of the sport's most decorated competitors, Neeraj announced himself on the continental stage. Beating a decorated Korean archer is among the most demanding tasks in the sport, given South Korea's long dominance of Olympic and Asian archery.
Dhiraj, India's leading recurve man, was equally assured in his round-of-16 clash, beating Chinese Taipei's Cheng Hsiang-Hui 6-2 to advance.
Quarterfinal lineup
The two wins set up intriguing quarterfinal ties later on Tuesday. Dhiraj will face Uzbekistan's Amirkon Sadikov, while Neeraj takes on Bhutan's Dorji Lam, with both Indians now two wins away from a medal in the individual event.
The results cap a strong morning for India's archery contingent and keep alive the country's hopes of adding an archery medal to its Day 11 tally. With the quarterfinals scheduled later on Tuesday, Neeraj's giant-killing win over Kim has given the Indian camp a timely surge of momentum.
For Neeraj, the victory over a multiple Olympic medallist marks a career-defining result on the continental stage, while Dhiraj's composed progression underlines his status as one of the steadiest recurve archers in the Indian squad.
Sources: Outlook India
