Dalal takes first indoor title after double shoot-off in Strassen

India’s Kushal Dalal claimed his first major compound indoor title at the 2025 GT Open in Strassen, Luxembourg, holding his nerve through a double shoot-off against experienced contender Stephan Hansen, formerly of Denmark and now representing the USA.

Both archers shot 148 in regulation, with Dalal dropping points in the fourth and fifth ends. The first shoot-off produced near-identical half-in 10s that were too close to call. In the second, Dalal delivered a solid 10 while Hansen faltered.

“I’m feeling great,” said Dalal. “This was my first indoor season, and I gained so much experience. I saw Nicolas [Girard] shooting a perfect 600.”

The 20-year-old, who has enjoyed a breakthrough outdoor season with two Asia Cup victories, admitted this was the first time he had navigated so many tight matches.

“I had four shoot-offs – the quarters, the semis and the finals as well!”

Mathias Fullerton edged Girard in a heavyweight bronze-medal shoot-off after both posted 150s. One of the day’s biggest surprises came earlier, when Mike Schloesser exited in the first round at the hands of Aljaz Matija Brenk of Slovenia.

In the compound women’s final, Ella Gibson defeated Elisa Roner in a big-name battle. Roner, a two-time Indoor World Series Champion, opened with three clean ends but dropped three late points, allowing Gibson to take control and close out the match.

In recurve, Israel’s Roy Dror secured another major indoor title with a shoot-off win over Willem Bakker of the Netherlands. The top seed and 2024 Olympian traded clean ends with Bakker for much of the match, dropping his only point with the first arrow of the fourth end before rallying to finish with five straight 10s. Both shot 10s in the shoot-off, Dror’s just closer.

The victory adds to Dror’s 2024 Nimes Archery Tournament title and improves on his silver in Lausanne two weeks ago.

Spain’s Elia Canales took the recurve women’s gold, defeating defending Strassen champion Lim Duna 6-2. Despite a shaky second arrow in the opening end, Canales settled quickly and shot clean for the remainder of the match.

The Indoor World Series now moves to Asia, with the Taipei Archery Open set to take place at the start of December.

You can rewatch the finals of the GT Open with a subscription to archery+.

Winners: GT Open 2025

• Recurve men: Roy Dror, Israel
• Recurve women: Elia Canales, Spain
• Compound men: Kushal Dalal, India
• Compound women: Ella Gibson, Great Britain