Ankita Bhakat Celebrates Historic Gold Medal Win at Asian Games

Indian archer Ankita Bhakat has made history by winning the first-ever women's recurve team gold medal at the Asian Games, dedicating her victory to her family and coaches. After a tense final against South Korea, where India secured a 5-3 win, Ankita expressed her joy and gratitude. The team focused on enjoying the competition rather than the pressure of winning, leading to their remarkable achievement. This victory adds to India's medal tally at the Aichi-Nagoya Games, showcasing the nation's growing prowess in archery.

By Narendra Chaudhary Oct 2, 2026, 13:07 IST

Ankita Dedicates Historic Gold to Family and Nation

Indian archer Ankita Bhakat has dedicated the groundbreaking women's recurve team gold medal at the Asian Games to her family, coaches, support staff, and the entire nation after India triumphed over South Korea with a score of 5-3 in the final on Friday. Ankita, alongside 17-year-old Kumkum Anil Mohod and Kirti Sharma, expressed that this medal holds special significance for her family, particularly as her mother stayed awake all night due to the anxiety surrounding the final match. "My family is ecstatic. My mother was so tense that she couldn't sleep last night. Now, she is incredibly happy. My father is also thrilled. My entire family is overjoyed. I want to dedicate this medal to them, all my coaches, the support staff present here, and my whole country," Ankita shared.

This gold medal marks India's first victory in the women's recurve team event at the Asian Games, achieved against a South Korean team that has historically excelled in this discipline. Reflecting on this monumental achievement, Ankita noted that the team concentrated on enjoying the experience rather than succumbing to the pressure of winning gold. "It feels incredible. We are thrilled to have won a gold medal at the Asian Games for the first time. Our team spirit was exceptionally strong, and we are very happy. We didn't come here with the mindset of needing to win gold; we focused on the hard work we put in together over the past 2-3 months for this moment. We just wanted to enjoy the opportunity to compete here," she stated.

A Tense Final Against South Korea

India started the final match strongly, with the first two sets ending in ties at 54-54 and 56-56. The teams were even at 2-2 before India took charge in the third set. Kirti began with a score of 10, followed by Ankita with a 9, and Kumkum added another 9, while South Korea struggled in the second rotation. India clinched the set 55-51, taking a 4-2 lead.

In the fourth set, South Korea responded vigorously, leading 28-26 after the first rotation. India needed to score 28 from their last three arrows to equalize the set and secure the gold medal. Kirti and Ankita both shot 9s, and Kumkum delivered a crucial 10, allowing India to tie the set and achieve a 5-3 victory.

Decisive Composure Under Pressure

Kumkum's ability to remain calm under pressure was crucial throughout the final, as the teenager consistently delivered 10s when India needed them most, while Ankita provided valuable experience during critical moments.

Path to Victory and Medal Tally

Earlier, India defeated China 5-1 in the semifinals to reach their first women's recurve team final at the Asian Games. This gold medal is India's 12th at the Aichi-Nagoya Games, bringing the country's overall medal tally to 70, which includes 12 gold, 24 silver, and 34 bronze medals as of the latest update.