Mexico and India set to clash in compound team finals in Shanghai
The men’s and women’s teams of Mexico and India booked their places to the compound team finals at the second stage of the 2025 Hyundai Archery World Cup in Shanghai after strong semifinal wins.
The Mexican men defeated second seed Korea in fine fashion to reach Saturday’s stage, pulling off two perfect ends (all 10s) and securing 21-year-old Rodrigo Gonzalez his first senior international medal.
Earlier, Korea had broken the 24-arrow compound men’s team world with a faultless 240 in the second round – the previous mark of 239 was held by USA since the 2011 World Archery Championships in Turin.
“Well, it’s a crazy day because all the teams were really good,” said Gonzalez, who also shot a personal best of 710 in Tuesday’s 72-arrow qualification. “It’s really hard here and it’s a workout. All the guys are really good.”
“All day I was nervous but I’m so happy, and all my team here made really good work.”
It’s a career-defining moment for Gonzalez, who only made his debut last month in Central Florida – the season opener – where he reached the quarterfinals in both individual and team events.
Now, with that experience, it looks as if Mexico has found another gem in compound. Gonzalez dropped all his shots in the 10-ring against Korea amidst very warm weather at the Yuanshen Sports Centre.
“Only focusing on the target and only thinking, ‘pull, pull slowly to the target and find the centre’,” he said on his shooting process this week. “710 is my personal record, and in the tournament, I don’t change anything - only my mentality, which is focusing on my points. It’s just me and the target.”
India will be Gonzalez, Sebastian Garcia and Luis Lezama‘s opponents come Saturday morning.
The defending champions – now featuring Abhishek Verma alongside Ojas Pravin Deotale and Rishabh Yadav in place of last year’s Prathamesh Bhalchandra Fuge and Priyansh – narrowly defeated Denmark, 232-231, in a tight semifinal.
Deotale, a bronze medallist at the Central Florida stage one month ago, praised the team’s preparation and focus.
“We’ve practised for the team match to be in the finals. In Florida, we were hoping for a different colour of a medal, and this time we did it. Verma and Yadav also did pretty well.”
“We are not looking about who is against us, we are just focusing on ourselves that we have to shoot good. We are not competing with any other teams or any other player. We are just competing for us. We have to score.”
India’s women also reached the gold medal match, outshooting Great Britain, 232-230, in a lineup that included world number one Ella Gibson. Mirroring the male counterparts, they will also match up against Mexico, who overcame Türkiye, 234-231, after surviving a scare against Chinese Taipei in the second round.
Denmark won bronze in the compound men’s team event, while Türkiye took third on the women’s side.
Action continues this afternoon in Shanghai, with recurve qualifications concluding the day.
Finals: Shanghai 2025
- Compound men team: India versus Mexico
- Compound women team: India versus Mexico
Watch coverage from Shanghai live with a subscription to archery+.
