Historic Gold for India in Women's Recurve Archery at Asian Games 2026

In a groundbreaking achievement, India's women's recurve archery team clinched gold at the Asian Games 2026, defeating South Korea 5-3. This victory marks India's first-ever medal in this discipline at the continental level. The young trio, led by 17-year-old Kumkum Mohod, showcased remarkable skill and composure, particularly in the final moments of the match. With this win, India not only adds to its medal tally but also sets the stage for future competitions, including Olympic qualifications. Read on to discover more about this historic moment for Indian archery.

By Narendra Chaudhary Oct 2, 2026, 08:41 IST

India's Groundbreaking Victory in Archery

Aichi-Nagoya [Japan], October 2: In a remarkable achievement, India triumphed in women's recurve archery, with the team of Kumkum Mohod, Ankita Bhakat, and Kirti Sharma defeating South Korea 5-3 in the gold medal match at the Asian Games 2026. This victory marks India's first-ever medal in this category at the continental event.

The young Indian archers showcased exceptional composure against a historically dominant South Korean team. Seventeen-year-old Kumkum shone brightly during the final, scoring two critical 10s in the final moments to secure the win, as reported by ESPN.

In their inaugural appearance in the recurve women's team final at the Asian Games, India faced a formidable South Korean squad, which had three archers ranked among the top four in qualifications. In contrast, India's finalists were ranked 10th, 20th, and 25th.

India started the final strongly, matching South Korea's opening set score of 54. Ankita began with a 9, followed by Kirti with a 7, and Kumkum capped it off with a 10, resulting in a 1-1 tie.

The second set mirrored the first, with both teams scoring 56. Ankita hit two 10s, and Kumkum again delivered a 10 with her last arrow, keeping the score level at 2-2.

In the third set, India took the lead. Kirti opened with a 10, Ankita added a 9, and Kumkum followed with another 9, giving India a one-point advantage. South Korea struggled in their second rotation, scoring only 51.

India needed just 24 points from their last three arrows to win the set. Kirti scored an 8, Ankita a 9, and Kumkum sealed the set with a 10, leading to a 55-51 victory and a 4-2 overall lead.

As the gold medal drew closer, India faced a tense final set. South Korea started strong, scoring 28 and taking a two-point lead. India responded with a 9 from Kirti and another 9 from Ankita, leaving Kumkum needing a perfect 10 to tie the set at 54.

Once again, Kumkum delivered, scoring a 10 that brought India to a total of 28 points, tying the fourth set and clinching a 5-3 victory.

This gold medal is a historic first for India in the women's recurve team event at the Asian Games.

Kumkum, hailing from Maharashtra, played a pivotal role throughout the final, consistently scoring 10s when it mattered most, while Ankita's experience provided stability during critical moments.

Earlier, India had secured their place in the final by defeating China 5-1 in the semifinals.

This victory marks India's 11th gold medal at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, contributing to an overall tally of 67 medals, including 23 silver and 33 bronze, placing India seventh on the medal table as of now.

India's recurve archers have two more chances for medals later today, with Kumkum and Dhiraj Bommadevara competing in the mixed team semifinal against Japan, while Dhiraj, Neeraj Chauhan, and Yashdeep Bhoge will face Iran in the men's team semifinal.

The mixed recurve team event also offers Olympic qualification opportunities, with the winning National Olympic Committee earning one men's and one women's quota for the LA 2028 Olympics.