India's Archery Team Shines at Asian Games: Gold Medal and Olympic Quota Secured!

Historic Victory for India's Archery Duo

Nagoya: The Indian mixed archery team, featuring Chikitha Taniparthi and Sahil Jadhav, clinched the gold medal and secured a spot for the 2028 Olympics by defeating Korea in a nail-biting shoot-off at the Asian Games held in Nagoya on Wednesday. This victory came on the heels of the women's team also achieving gold in the same event.

In a gripping final, Chikitha and Sahil demonstrated remarkable composure, edging out Korea's Jungyoon Park and Choi Eun Gyu with a score of 158-157 after the shoot-off.

The Indian pair advanced to the gold medal match by narrowly defeating Thailand 156-155 in the semifinals.

Earlier, the Indian women's compound archery team delivered an outstanding performance, overpowering China 238-234 to retain their Asian Games gold medal, matching a world record in the process.

Jyothi Surekha Vennam, Chikitha, and Prithika Pradeep showcased their skills in the final, securing the top podium position. Their score equaled the world record previously set by South Korea during the 2014 Incheon Asian Games.

China's team, consisting of Wunier, Yue Wang, and Fangyao Wei, took home the silver medal, while South Korea's team, featuring Park Jungyoon, Park Yerin, and Kang Yeonseo, claimed bronze after defeating Chinese Taipei.

The Indian trio displayed exceptional performance in the final, starting strong with an opening end score of 60-58, hitting a series of perfect 10s.

Continuing their dominance, they won the second end 60-58, extending their lead to 178-176 as they entered the final end.

Under pressure, China faltered with two 9s, while India maintained their excellence, scoring six perfect 10s to not only defend their title but also equal the world record.

In the previous edition, India had secured five gold medals in archery.