The promising archer from Amravati in Maharashtra is excited to be part of the two World Cups ahead of the Asian Games in Japan  

Maharashtra’s 25 years old international recurve archer Yashdeep Sanjay Bhoge from Amravati is enjoying his preparation for the upcoming two World Cup stages. He feels a steady performance in the global competitions will boost his confidence while trying to get an Asian Games berth.

The promising international recurve archer missed the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games as he was sixth in the ranking. He has steadily climbed the ladder to improve his ranking this year to third in 2026.

Missed 2024 Paris Games

He was heartbroken after missing 2024 Paris Olympic Games after being ranked sixth in the selection trials.

In the 2026 open selection trials held earlier in January in Kolkata, Bhoge was ranked third behind Dhiraj Bommadevara and Atanu Das. Seasoned archer Tarundeep Rai was ranked fourth in the selection trials.

Top four were selected for the two World Cups—Mexico World Cup in April and Shanghai World Cup in May.

Fine-tuned training

“In the last one year I have fine-tuned training which actually paid off in Kolkata (this year),” Bhoge told Sportsbackstory.com over phone. “In practice I was shooting more arrows. Going to gym to improve strength. Above all I stayed focused.”

Bhoge is attending national preparatory camp in Sonepat in Haryana. The final Asian Games selection will be held in June. Top 16 archers from the Kolkata leg will be eligible to compete in the Asian Games selection trials.

Inspired by South Korean archers’ training regimen, Bhoge transformed his own training accordingly.

One step at a time

He believes in moving one step at a time. Change in training has enabled him to shoot arrows more precisely and faster in training as well as in competition.

“We get three minutes to shoot six arrows in competition. Majority of the top archers complete the sequence between two to two-and-a-half minutes,” Bhoge explains. “In the process save 30 seconds to recover and prepare for the next series. The 30 seconds advantage is big as there is three minutes break between the series to collect arrows and note down points.”

Bhoge’s first mentor, a school level archery coach in Amravati, guided him and laid a good foundation in 2013 when he was in class seventh.

Indian bamboo

Initially he started with Indian bamboo bow before moving to recurve. There were financial issues to procure costly archery equipment. But he managed to convince his parents with good results in the competition. “I was attracted to archery from school days. I got good results. it encouraged me to continue my hard work. At the same time, I could balance my studies,” Bhoge recalls.

Balanced approach

His balanced approach enabled him to taste victory at international level six years after he first picked up the bow and arrows. The Asia Cup gold medallist is keen to prove his potential this year during the World Cups and the final selection trials for Asian Games. “I will not let this golden chance to slip this time,” he said with an air of confidence.

EOM