Mexico reserve compound men team stun world number two side India at Madrid 2026

It'll take an enormous result to eclipse the gigantic upset that occurred on Wednesday morning as Mexico edged India via a shoot-off to book themselves a place in the compound men's team gold medal match at Madrid 2026 - stage four of the 2026 Hyundai Archery World Cup.

You might be raising your eyebrows at why this would be deemed such an unexpected result, but Miguel Becerra, Rodrigo Olvera and Elias Reyes Cravioto are only shooting together for the first time here in Madrid. Sebastian Garcia Flores, Rodrigo Gonzalez De Alba, Juan Carlos Del Rio Gutierrez and Lot Máximo Méndez Ortiz - Mexico's principal compound men's squad following their trials earlier this year - are absent, along with the rest of this season's regulars, due to conflicting scheduling with preparations for the 2026 Central American and Caribbean Games.

On top of this, the trio - who have competed at World Cups in previous years - have never shot together as a team internationally, making today's victory against Sahil Rajesh Jadhav, Kushal Dalal and Ganesh Mani Ratnam Thirumuru all the more impressive, especially as it came via a shoot-off after a 147-147 tie in nearly 40-degree celsius heat.

“We knew we didn't have the main team, we were the secondary team, but the three of us have all been on the main team at some point, so we have the level to be here, and we have the level to fight for the gold medal match,” said Olvera, who had to anxiously wait alongside his compatriots longer than usual at the target as the judges counted the final three arrows. “I was just hoping it would be resolved. At the end of the day, we're not judges.”

“They know the procedures, and they have to follow them correctly. They [India] were asking to repeat the measurement, but the judge said it couldn't be done again, so that was the thing.”

As surprising as the result was, it is not as though this is Olvera and his teammates' maiden venture onto archery's premier international circuit.

That really would be something.

But chemistry does count in the three-archer team and two-archer mixed team formats, with communication among athletes, as well as coaches, essential to maintaining good timing and keeping tight groups in the 10-ring.

It's why teams spend week-long camps together - quite often longer - nailing down the minute details.

Although he has competed at five World Cups altogether, the 2023 Copa Merengue silver medallist Olvera didn't have that time with Becerra and Reyes Cravioto.

Their opponents today, India, are known to have one of the strongest talent pools in both the compound men and women disciplines, but today showed that Mexico truly can challenge the best even when their best aren't on the field.

“I think it's because we start shooting at a very young age. It's a solid foundation for young archers. We have competitions for juniors, for cadets, and for younger age groups from the time we're very little.”

“We have a good standard. We have Olympic medals, and we have the dream of winning major tournaments, so I think that's why,” added the 24-year-old athlete.

Dalal, Jadhav and Thirumuru's day - who came so close to getting onto the stage this Saturday - then suffered at the hands to Noah Nuber, Paolo Kunsch and Simon Moritz in the bronze medal match much to their opponents excitement. They recorded Germany's first medal in the compound men's team event since Berlin 2017, which coincidentally also came against India.

The Germans won in four sets, 233-232.

The recurve competition at Vallehermoso Stadium is currently underway, beginning with qualification.

Finals: Madrid 2026

• Compound men team: Mexico versus Denmark
• Compound women team: Colombia versus India

Watch coverage from Madrid live with a subscription to archery+.