After high, young archer Rahul sets sights on Asiad

When recurve archer Rahul lined up for the national trials for the Asian Championships, getting selected for that tournament was not in the mind of the 21-year-old. “I just wanted to perform well and build towards the (2026) Asian Games trials,” he said.

- Rutvick Mehta

Not only did Rahul make the Indian team for the Asian Championships, he also pocketed the individual silver medal and the team gold last week in Dhaka.

The youngest in the largely new-look Indian men’s recurve team also featuring Atanu Das and Yashdeep Bhoge that defeated South Korea for gold, Rahul also went past Korean Seo Mingi in the individual semifinal before losing to compatriot and Paris Olympian Dhiraj Bomma-devara.

That the youngster from Jhaj-jar, whose father is a bus driver in a family of farmers, earned his first senior medal even in individual apart from team left him a touch surprised. And, with a surge in confidence. “Going into the Asian Championships, I thought things might change for me. We were confident about the team medal. But I never imagined that I would also win an individual silver,” said Rahul. “The silver gave me the belief that I can compete and do well in the individual event as well. Plus the fact that I beat a Korean in the semifinal.”