Ojas Pravin Deotale claims compound men’s crown
Ojas Pravin Deotale completed a treble of Indian world titles in style as he won a historic compound men’s gold at the 2023 Hyundai World Archery Championships in Berlin on Saturday afternoon.
He shot a perfect 150 in the final to beat Poland’s Lukasz Przybylski by a single point and become the first Indian man to win an individual world title as he held his nerve, missing out on just three points across the day.
“It is like a dream to me; I still am dreaming, I cannot think I am a new world champion,” Deotale said. “My legs are still trembling, I still don’t know how it happened.”
“It was just a thought I could win the individual gold medal but today I did it for my country.”
His triumph came just hours after Aditi Gopichand Swami claimed India’s first-ever individual title on top of another first gold medal for the Indian compound women’s team yesterday.
The 21-year-old began the afternoon by beating Przybylski’s compatriot Przemyslaw Konecki in the quarterfinals before wowing the crowds with a one-point win against world number one Mike Schloesser.
Schloesser, who won world silver two years ago in Yankton, held his nerve in the bronze medal match to beat Korean fourth seed Kim Jongho 148-147 despite almost running out of time on one shot after picking up the wrong bow.
Fresh from his team’s historic win in the compound men’s team final, Przybylski fought until the very end, holding Deotale to his final shot.
The silver medallist made notable improvements from his round of 32 exit two years ago, as he beat top seed Emircan Haney and Kim on his way to the final and felt huge pride after a glowing week in Berlin.
“I feel amazing, I am very happy to win silver,” Polish archer said. “It was a very strong match, our shooting on this competition from the beginning to the end has been a very high level.”
Przybylski also praised the atmosphere in the team.
“It is like a snowball,” he pictured. “They were cheering for me and that is a very big thing to help me keep my mind in the final. I am very proud of my shooting and proud of my team.”
The podium was completed by Schloesser, who earned his fourth world championship medal with victory in the bronze medal match over Kim, adding to the team bronze he won on Friday.
“I’m super stoked, I’m super happy,” he said. “Of course I wanted more, this year’s goal was to become world champion and I came a little bit short. Coming third, it’s a good feeling as well.”
Competition continues with recurve women’s individual finals on Sunday morning in Berlin.
