Nagpur's star compound archer, Ojas Pravin Deotale, has carried his phenomenal 2023 form into the new year, securing a commanding victory at the national selection trials. The 23-year-old World Champion and Asian Games triple gold medallist topped the qualification rounds, positioning himself as a prime contender for the upcoming international season.
A Record-Breaking Momentum Continues
Ojas Deotale entered 2026 on the back of a historic year. In December, he not only became the national archery champion but also achieved a monumental feat in Hyderabad. He matched the world record held by Denmark's Mathias Fullerton for a 15-arrow compound match, shooting a perfect score of 150 with 13 'X's (the innermost scoring rings). This performance set the stage for his New Year campaign.
Dominance at the Open Selection Trials
The 1st Open Selection Trials, held at the SAI campus in Kolkata, West Bengal, aimed to select the core probables for the Asian Games and the Senior Archery Team for World Cup Stages 1 and 2. Ojas left no doubt about his current form, emerging on top of the table after three compound men's qualification rounds.
He accumulated a formidable total of 2134 points across the three rounds, which comprised two events each. His consistency was key to the victory. Ojas started the opening round powerfully, winning the first event with 714 points (scores of 352 and 358). He followed this up by scoring 710 points in each of the second and third events to seal the table-top finish.
Close Competition for Top Spots
The competition was intense, highlighting the depth of talent in Indian compound archery. Ojas was closely followed by Haryana's Kushal Dalal, who scored 2131 points, and Sahil Jadhav of the RSPB, who finished third with 2130 points. The narrow margins underscore the high level of the trials.
From a total pool of 228 participants, the top 16 archers have been selected as core probables. The next phase will see the top 12 archers from this group compete in a round-robin format to determine the final rankings for team selection.
Setting Sights on International Glory
This dominant performance in Kolkata is a clear statement of intent from Ojas Deotale. As the reigning national champion and a world record-equalling archer, he has given himself the perfect platform to build towards the Asian Games and the Archery World Cup stages. His journey from Nagpur to the pinnacle of world archery continues to inspire, and his current form suggests more historic achievements are on the horizon for Indian sports.
