Nagpur's star compound archer, Ojas Pravin Deotale, has successfully secured his place in the Indian squad for the initial stages of the 2024 Archery World Cup, following impressive performances at the national selection trials in Kolkata. He will be joined by fellow Vidarbha archer, Madhura Dhamangaonkar from Amravati, marking a significant achievement for the region.
Trials Conclude with Vidarbha Duo's Success
The selection trials, which wrapped up at the SAI Eastern Regional Centre in Kolkata on Friday, determined the teams for the first two World Cup stages. Ojas Deotale, a former world champion, finished second in the compound men's category, earning his berth for the World Cup events in Puebla, Mexico (April 7–12) and Shanghai, China (May 5–10). In the women's compound section, Madhura Dhamangaonkar also secured a second-place finish, confirming her spot on the national team.
Detailed Results and Team Composition
The trials saw intense competition, with the top four finishers in each category making the senior Indian team. In the men's compound event, Ojas was narrowly edged out by his academy mate from Drushti Archery Academy, Sahil Jadhav, who topped the table with 13.75 points. Ojas collected 13 points. They were followed by Haryana's Kushal Dalal (12.75) and Delhi's seasoned archer Abhishek Verma (11.5).
The women's trials were dominated by Andhra Pradesh's multiple World Cup medallist, Jyothi Surekha Vennam, who won with a commanding 15.25 points. Madhura Dhamangaonkar took second place with 11.75 points, while Satara's Aditi Swami (11) and Delhi's Pragati (9.5) completed the four-member women's team lineup.
Archers' Reactions and Future Plans
Expressing satisfaction with his performance, Ojas Deotale stated his clear targets for the upcoming global events. "I am satisfied with my performance here in Kolkata. At both the World Cups, my target will be to win individual and team medals. Ours is a strong team and we all will give our best," he said.
With the mixed team compound event set to debut at the LA 2028 Olympic Games, Ojas anticipates heightened competition. He acknowledged the challenge, saying, "Of course, competition will be different from now on till the 2028 Olympics, but we too will be well prepared as our coaches already made plans for us to improve further." Following the trials, Ojas will head to France to participate in an indoor competition as part of his preparations.
The selection also highlighted the influence of the Drushti Archery Academy in Satara, coached by Pravin Sawant. Remarkably, four out of the eight archers in the combined compound men's and women's Indian teams train under his guidance at the academy.
