India clinch historic archery gold after beating Olympic Champions Korea at Asian Games 2026
The achievement is especially significant because South Korea are the reigning Olympic champions and have won 10 Olympic gold medals in women’s recurve archery.
PTC News Desk: The Indian women’s recurve archery team has created history by winning gold at the 2026 Asian Games. Ankita Bhakat, Kirti and Kumkum Mohod defeated strong contenders South Korea in the final, taking India’s gold medal tally to 11.
India had earlier beaten China 5-1 in the semifinal to reach the Asian Games final for the first time.
The opening two sets were closely fought, with both teams level at 54 and 56 points. South Korea then struggled in the third set, scoring 52 after hitting three consecutive 8s. India took advantage, scoring 55 to move ahead 4-2.
South Korea responded in the fourth set with 54 points. India also scored 54, with Kirti’s initial 8 upgraded to a 9 after a review. The result was enough for India to win the set and secure a historic victory.
The achievement is especially significant because South Korea are the reigning Olympic champions and have won 10 Olympic gold medals in women’s recurve archery. At the Paris Olympics in 2024, India had finished fourth.
The Indian team was largely the same combination that won gold in Shanghai, with Kirti replacing former world No. 1 Deepika Kumari, who did not qualify through the selection trials.
This is India’s fourth archery gold at the Asian Games, following victories in the men’s compound, women’s compound and mixed compound events. The Indian women’s recurve team had won bronze at the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou.