Asian Games 2026: India Women Win Recurve Gold, Add Two Silvers

India’s women’s recurve archery team won a historic first Asian Games gold after defeating defending champions South Korea, while the country also secured silver medals in the mixed recurve and men’s recurve team events on Friday.

Ankita Bhakat, Kirti Sharma and 17-year-old Kumkum Mohod delivered the breakthrough women’s result in difficult windy conditions, ending South Korea’s run of seven straight gold medals in the event. The victory also marked India’s fourth archery gold of these Games, following titles in the men’s compound, women’s compound and mixed compound team competitions.

India’s success in recurve events was particularly significant after the women’s team had taken bronze at the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou. The team had already shown its progress by winning a World Cup gold in Shanghai in May, having beaten Korea in the semifinals on the way to that title.

Women’s team hold firm against defending champions

The women’s recurve final began with two closely fought sets, with India and Korea level on 54 points in the opening set and 56 in the second. Korea’s lineup included Tokyo Olympics gold medallist Kang Chaeyoung, alongside Oh Yejin and Lee Yunji.

The decisive shift came in the third set. Korea shot three consecutive 8s and finished on 52, opening the door for India to post 55 and take a 4-2 lead. With the gold medal within reach, India then needed to match Korea’s 54 in the fourth set.

Kirti opened that set with an 8, which was upgraded to a 9 on review. India reached 54, levelled the set and completed the landmark victory over the defending champions. The Indian trio had reached the final by beating China 5-1 in the semifinals, earning the country’s first Asian Games final appearance in the women’s recurve team event.

Kirti said the team focused on its own target rather than the identity of the opponent. Ankita pointed to the work behind the result and the desire to improve on the bronze medal won in Hangzhou.

The lineup was largely the same as the Indian combination that won in Shanghai, with Kirti taking the place of former world number one Deepika Kumari, who did not qualify for the Asian Games through the selection trials.

Mohod’s day continued with a second medal in the mixed recurve team event. Partnering Dhiraj Bommadevara, she helped India claim a first-ever Asian Games medal in mixed team recurve, although the pair were beaten 3-5 by China in the final. China won the sets 38-34 and 37-35, India took the third 37-36, and the final set finished 37-37.

India had reached that final by defeating Japan 5-3. After losing the first set 37-38, the Indian pair shared the second, won the third to draw level at 3-3, and then took the fourth 37-35 after Japan shot a costly 7.

Men’s recurve team completes three-medal day

India’s men’s recurve team added another silver after losing 1-5 to defending champions Korea in the final. Dhiraj Bommadevara, Yashdeep Bhoge and Neeraj Chauhan drew the first set 56-56 after Korea began with an 8, but Korea took control thereafter.

Korea claimed the second set 57-50 after opening with three 10s, while India did not produce a single 10 in that set. The final set ended 56-54 to Korea, with Neeraj’s 7 from the fourth arrow proving costly for India.

The men’s team had reached the summit clash with a 6-0 semifinal win over Iran. Together, the women’s gold and the two recurve silvers represented a major medal haul for Indian archery at the 2026 Asian Games.