Sahil Rajesh Jadhav was one point away from a perfect performance as his ruthless shooting took him to gold in the compound men’s final at the Rhine-Ruhr 2025 FISU World University Games.
The Indian edged Ajay Scott 149-148 in a contest that befitted a World Championship medal match more than one at universiades level, such was the calibre.
Across the five ends, only three combined nines were shot by both archers in Essen, the pair displaying impeccable focus and accuracy. Jadhav dropped one, Scott two.
Their placement of arrows mirrored their historically efficient surroundings in one of Germany’s industrial heartlands.
Action in the Arnhem 2025 European Grand Prix Leg 2 concluded not long before Scott and Jadhav took to the iconic Zeche Zollverein stage and it couldn’t have been more different. The grouping of arrows was the least of concerns for archers in the Netherlands as they were made to puff and huff against a difficult wind to even land a shot in the red.
10-ring grouping though was a heightened component of Saturday’s match in the calmer conditions of Essen which makes the unlikely victory for Karmaveer Bhaurao Patil University student Jadhav that bit more impressive.
The 24 year old archer has never managed to get on India’s extremely competitive senior compound team for any internationals and Rhine-Ruhr marked the first time he was able to represent his homeland proudly on the world stage.
He may not be going to the Gwangju World Championships, but he clasped the opportunity with both hands to showcase his talent that could yet see him land on the national team in the near future.
