Ganesh Mani Wins Bronze Medal at Asian Games 2026 in Archery Men's Individual Compound

Okazaki, Japan – India's rising archery star, Ganesh Mani Ratnam Thirumuru, has etched his name in the annals of the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Games, clinching a coveted bronze medal in the Men's Individual Compound event today, October 1, 2026. The 20-year-old archer, born on May 9, 2006, delivered a commanding performance to overcome Vietnam's Cong Duc Dang in a tense bronze medal playoff at the Okazaki Chuo Sogo Park Multipurpose Square. Mani's individual medal adds another feather to his cap at these Games, having already been a part of the gold-winning Indian Men's Compound Team on September 30, 2026. Prince Noble and Manu Francis Win Silver Medal at Asian Games 2026 in Sailing Men's Skiff.

The Path to the Podium

Ganesh Mani's journey to the bronze medal was a testament to his skill and resilience. The archery competitions at the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Games commenced on September 26 and are set to conclude on October 3. After navigating through earlier elimination rounds, including a narrow 149-148 victory over compatriot Sahil Jadhav in the Round of 16 on September 28, Mani advanced to the quarterfinals. He then advanced to the quarterfinals on October 1, where he convincingly defeated Chen Chieh-lun of Chinese Taipei with a score of 148-138.

His medal hopes for gold were dashed in a tightly contested semi-final clash against South Korea's Kim Jongho, where he ultimately fell short with a score of 144-148. This setback, however, only fueled his determination for the bronze medal match.

Bronze Medal Showdown

The bronze medal match saw Ganesh Mani pitted against Vietnam's Cong Duc Dang. Competing at approximately 11:14 AM JST (7:44 AM IST) today, October 1, 2026, at the Okazaki Chuo Sogo Park Multipurpose Square, Mani started strongly with a perfect 30 in his first end. He maintained his composure, leading 60-58 after two ends and demonstrating flawless shooting under pressure to secure the bronze. The crucial victory marks a significant achievement for the young Indian archer on the continental stage. Anahat Singh, Tanvi Khanna and Joshna Chinappa Win Bronze Medal at Asian Games 2026 in Squash Women's Team.

.Ganesh Mani: A Rising Star

Born on May 9, 2006, Ganesh Mani Ratnam Thirumuru is already making a significant impact in the world of archery at just 20 years old. His career highlights include a gold medal in the individual compound Under-21 event at the 2024 Asian Archery Youth Championships, where he also secured a team gold. He further added an Under-21 gold at the 2025 Indoor World Archery Series in Chinese Taipei and was a part of India's first Junior World Champion men's compound Under-21 team in 2025. This year, he also won an Under-21 Gold Medal at the Nîmes Archery Tournament in France. Mani is also recognized as a world medallist and a world record holder with a qualification best of 711 in Compound Men.

His impressive performances have solidified his reputation as one of India's most promising archers, and his bronze medal at the Asian Games 2026 further underscores his potential for future international glory. This individual bronze medal win by Ganesh Mani Ratnam Thirumuru highlights India's growing prowess in archery and provides a significant boost to the nation's medal tally at the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Games.