India, Sept. 17 -- This year, China did something they hadn't in the recent past-field a full-fledged compound archery team in all the four World Cup stages, not just for their home tournament. The result? Their men's team edged past India to take bronze in World Cup Stage 2 at Shanghai, and went better in the Antalya Stage 3 by capturing the country's first World Cup gold in the event after beating India again in the semi-finals.

Recurve heavyweight China is emerging as one of compound's fast-rising forces, after the discipline got its Olympic calling for the 2028 Los Angeles Games with the mixed event. So are some other Asian countries, notably recurve powerhouses South Korea and Chinese Taipei. Against this backdrop, Indian archers en...