New Delhi: Indian compound archer Abhishek Verma clinched the gold medal at the Archery World Cup 2023 stage 3 in Medellin, Colombia. The 33-year-old Verma defeated the 2019 world champion James Lutz of the USA 148-146 in a thrilling final.
Verma started the final strong, shooting a perfect 30 in the first end. Lutz responded with a 29, but Verma held his nerve to win the end 29-28. Verma continued to shoot well in the second end, scoring a 28, while Lutz could only manage a 27. This gave Verma a 57-55 lead at the halfway stage.
“Wow… Another Gold for archer Abhishek which makes him a World Champion for the 3rd time”, tweeted CM Kejriwal.
Lutz made a comeback in the third end, scoring a 29, while Verma could only manage a 28. This reduced Verma’s lead to 85-84. The fourth and final end was a close affair, with both archers scoring 28. However, Verma’s arrow was closer to the centre, giving him the win 148-146.
This is Verma’s second World Cup gold medal, having also won in Antalya in 2022. He is now ranked number one in the world in the compound men’s event.
Verma’s win is a major boost for Indian archery. The country has been struggling to win medals at major international tournaments in recent years. However, Verma’s success shows that India is still capable of producing world-class archers.
Verma’s victory will also be a huge inspiration for young archers in India. He has shown that it is possible to achieve great things with hard work and dedication. Verma is a role model for young archers all over the country.
With Verma leading the way, India is well-positioned to challenge for medals at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris. Verma is a strong contender for a medal, and he will be hoping to lead India to a successful campaign.