Ganesh Mani Ratnam Secures Archery Bronze for India at Asian Games!
Ganesh Mani Ratnam Secures Archery Bronze for India at Asian Games!
Indian archer Ganesh Mani Ratnam Thirumuru clinches a hard-fought bronze medal at the Asian Games 2026! Discover his incredible performance and journey.
Indian compound archer Ganesh Mani Ratnam Thirumuru has brought immense pride to the nation by securing a bronze medal in the men's individual compound event at the Asian Games in Nagoya on Thursday. This adds another feather to his cap, following his contribution to the gold-winning men's team just a day earlier.
Ganesh showcased a commanding performance in the bronze medal playoff, where he triumphed over Vietnam's Cong Duc Dang with a score of 149-144. His precision was remarkable, hitting the mark in 14 out of his 15 shots, a testament to his unwavering focus and skill. His journey to the bronze included a tough semifinal loss to South Korea's Kim Jong-ho, where he went down 144-148.
Despite the setback, Ganesh quickly regrouped, demonstrating incredible mental fortitude. Speaking about his recovery, he shared,
My psychologist prepared me. Whatever is done, you have to prepare for the next match and be ready for it.
He added, “I feel really great about my shooting.
I thought I shot great arrows in every match and I don't think the semifinal is a match I need to worry about.” The 20-year-old archer expressed his excitement about the win, stating, “I had some wonderful scores out there and it feels great to get the first individual medal (in compound) for India (at the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Games).” He attributed his success to the rigorous training and the strong support system behind him. This individual medal marks India's fourth in compound archery at the Asian Games, contributing to an overall tally of 63 medals for the contingent.
Ganesh's victory was preceded by an impressive quarterfinal win against Chinese Taipei's Chieh-Lun Chen, where he dominated with a score of 148-138. He consistently outscored his opponent, even achieving a '10-hitting spree' after the initial two series. Looking ahead, Ganesh remains optimistic and motivated. “We have the Asia Cup and many more (tournaments) coming up so I will go back to training,” he said.
His passion for the sport is clear: “I just love the shooting, the feeling it gives me. I love everything about it.
I feel very confident about my shooting.
I just focus on myself and give my best.” While Ganesh celebrated his win, another Indian archer, Chikitha Taniparthi, narrowly missed out on a third medal after a close defeat in the women's compound individual quarterfinals.
Chikitha had already secured gold medals in both the women's team and mixed team compound events.
