Dhiraj Bommadevara created a new Asian Games record in the men’s recurve individual archery qualification event on 26 September 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. The Indian archer scored 698 points out of a possible 720 at Okazaki Chuo Sogo Park Multipurpose Square. His performance placed him at the top of the qualification standings and made him the first seed for the individual elimination draw.

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Dhiraj’s score was eight points higher than the previous Asian Games qualification record of 690 points, which was held by South Korea’s Lee Woo. The strong performance gave India an important start in the individual and team recurve competitions at the Asian Games 2026.

Dhiraj Bommadevara Leads the Qualification Round

Dhiraj Bommadevara produced a consistent performance across the 72-arrow qualification round. He scored 348 points with his first 36 arrows and improved to 350 points with his final 36 arrows. His overall score of 698 points put him ahead of the other competitors in the qualification standings.

The qualification round is important because it determines the seeding for the elimination stage. By finishing at the top, Dhiraj secured the first seed in the men’s individual recurve event.

His performance also gave India a strong position before the knockout rounds. The top seed receives a bye into the second round of the 64-archer individual elimination draw, allowing Dhiraj to advance without competing in the opening elimination round.

New Asian Games Recurve Record

Dhiraj’s 698-point score broke the previous Asian Games qualification record of 690 points. The earlier mark belonged to South Korea’s Lee Woo. The eight-point improvement made Dhiraj’s qualification round one of the standout performances of the archery competition at Aichi-Nagoya.

A recurve qualification round consists of 72 arrows. Each arrow can score a maximum of 10 points, making 720 the highest possible total. Archers aim to maintain accuracy throughout the round because even a few points can make a significant difference in the final ranking.

Dhiraj’s score of 698 means he averaged nearly 9.7 points per arrow. His steady performance across both halves of the qualification round helped him finish at the top of the standings.

How Recurve Archery Qualification Works

Recurve archery uses a bow with curved limbs that store energy when the string is pulled back. It is one of the major forms of target archery and is used in Olympic competition.

During the qualification round, each archer shoots 72 arrows at the target. Every arrow can earn between zero and 10 points depending on where it lands. The closer an arrow is to the centre of the target, the higher the score.

At the end of the round, all 72 scores are added together. The total determines the ranking and seeding for the elimination stage. Dhiraj’s 698 points therefore gave him the highest position in the individual qualification standings at the Asian Games 2026.

Strong Performance in Both Halves

Dhiraj Bommadevara showed consistency throughout the qualification round. He recorded 348 points in his first 36 arrows and followed it with an even stronger score of 350 in the second half.

The improvement in the final 36 arrows helped him reach a total of 698 points. Maintaining accuracy over a long qualification round requires concentration, stable shooting technique and control under competition pressure.

His second-half score also showed that he was able to maintain his performance as the round progressed. The result placed him eight points above the previous Asian Games record.

India’s Men’s Recurve Team Scores 2039

Dhiraj’s individual performance also contributed to India’s men’s recurve team qualification result. The Indian team, which included Dhiraj Bommadevara, finished with a combined score of 2039 points.

The team finished among the top three seeds in the qualification standings. As a result, India received a bye into the pre-quarterfinal stage of the team competition.

The team event brings together the scores of the participating archers, making individual consistency important for the overall team position. Dhiraj’s 698 points formed an important part of India’s combined total.

India’s Archery Campaign in Aichi-Nagoya

The Asian Games 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya feature archers from across Asia competing in individual and team events. Archery is one of the sports where small differences in scores can change the rankings and elimination matchups.

Dhiraj’s record-setting qualification performance gave India a strong position in the men’s recurve competition. His top seeding means he will enter the individual elimination draw from a favourable position after the qualification stage.

The Indian men’s recurve team also advanced with a high seeding after its combined 2039-point score. Both the individual and team results have created an important platform for India’s archers as the elimination rounds continue.

Dhiraj Bommadevara’s Record-Breaking Score

The 698-point score is the key highlight of Dhiraj Bommadevara’s performance at the Asian Games 2026. He finished the qualification round with 348 points in the opening 36 arrows and 350 points in the final 36.

His total was eight points better than the previous Asian Games qualification record of 690. It also made him the top seed in the men’s individual recurve draw.

The record is based on the qualification round rather than the elimination matches, where archers compete directly against their opponents. In the knockout stage, the focus shifts from total qualification scores to winning individual matches.

With Dhiraj leading the qualification standings and India’s men’s recurve team among the top three seeds, the country enters the next stage of the Asian Games archery competition with strong positions in both events.