HighLights
  1. Seasoned campaigner Ankita Bhakat, Kirti Sharma and 17-year-old Kumkum Mohod held their nerve
  2. Korea then faltered in the third set.
  3. The pair had earlier stormed into the final by edging past Japan 5-3.

The Indian archers continued their medal rush at the Asian Games as the women’s recurve team produced a sensational performance under pressure to stun defending champions South Korea 5-3 and clinch a maiden gold medal in the event here on Friday.

Seasoned campaigner Ankita Bhakat, Kirti Sharma and 17-year-old Kumkum Mohod held their nerve in challenging windy conditions to outshoot the formidable Korean trio and script a historic triumph for Indian archery.

Kumkum then returned to the range alongside Dhiraj Bommadevara and secured her second medal of the day, with the Indian pair settling for silver after a 3-5 defeat to China in the mixed recurve final.

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India End Women’s Recurve Gold Drought

The Indian women’s recurve team had to dig deep against a Korean side featuring Tokyo Olympics gold medallist Kang Chaeyoung, alongside Oh Yejin and Lee Yunji.

The opening two sets were tightly contested, with both teams finishing level at 54 and 56 points respectively as neither side managed to establish an early advantage.

Korea then faltered in the third set, shooting three consecutive 8s to finish with 52 points. India capitalised on the opportunity, scoring 55 to take the set and move 4-2 ahead.

With the gold within reach, Korea responded with 54 points in the fourth set. Kirti initially shot an 8, but her arrow was upgraded to a 9 after a review, taking India’s score to 54.

The scores were level in the set, but that was enough for India to seal the match and complete a landmark victory over the defending champions.

India had earlier defeated China 5-1 in the semifinal to reach their first Asian Games final in the women’s recurve team event.

The gold is India’s fourth in archery at the Games, following titles in the men’s compound team, women’s compound team and mixed compound team events.

The Indian women’s recurve team had won bronze at the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou.

"We are feeling really good right now, winning gold. This medal is not only for us but our country too, which makes it even sweeter," Kirti said.

"Going into the final we were aware that we would have to perform at our very best. We were not talking about whether it was China, Korea or anything like that. We were just focusing on our aim, what we had to do. And we have done that, so we are very happy."

Kumkum, Dhiraj Win Historic Mixed Team Silver

Kumkum added a second medal to her tally after combining with Dhiraj Bommadevara in the mixed recurve team event.

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The pair had earlier stormed into the final by edging past Japan 5-3. India made a slow start, dropping the opening set 37-38, before sharing the second set and then winning the third to level the contest at 3-3.

The Indian duo then capitalised on a costly 7 from Japan to win the fourth set 37-35 and secure India’s first-ever Asian Games final berth in the recurve mixed team event.

In the final, however, China prevailed 5-3 (38-34, 37-35, 36-37, 37-37).

Kumkum, who had been in sensational form throughout the day, could not quite reproduce her best in the final. She managed only one 10, while a series of 8s and a 7 allowed China’s Mengqi Li, who shot five 10s, to make the difference.


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