SportsPosted at: Oct 2 2026 5:50PM


Asian Games archery: India break South Korea’s long reign to win historic recurve gold

New Delhi, Oct 2 (UNI) At 17, Kumkum Mohod delivered a performance well beyond her years to help India create history in women’s recurve archery at the Asian Games, anchoring a remarkable victory over South Korea in the gold-medal final.
South Korea had dominated this event like few other teams. In the previous 12 editions of the women’s recurve team competition at the Asian Games, they had won 10 gold medals and had not lost since 1994, putting together seven successive titles.
India finally ended that run on Thursday.
Kumkum, Ankita Bhakat and Kirti Sharma held their nerve to beat the defending champions and win India’s first-ever Asian Games gold in the women’s recurve team event. It was also only the second time India had reached the final, having never gone beyond the semifinals before.
The Indian trio knew South Korea were beatable. They had already defeated them in the semifinal of the Archery World Cup in Shanghai in May. But replicating that performance on the Asian Games stage, and in a final, was an entirely different challenge.
India rose to it, with Kumkum emerging as the difference-maker when the pressure was at its highest.
Shooting last for India, the teenager produced a series of composed arrows at crucial moments. In the opening set, South Korea had taken the lead and India needed a 10 from Kumkum to stay in the contest. She responded by hitting an X, right in the centre.
The second set brought another pressure situation. With India needing a 10 to level the scores, Kumkum delivered again. The first two sets ended tied, with the teams locked at 2-2 after scores of 54 and 56 respectively.
South Korea then faltered in the third set, hitting four 8s from their six arrows. India capitalised, scoring 55 to move ahead. The fourth set was again closely fought. South Korea finished with 54, meaning India needed to match that score to win gold. Kirti initially shot an 8, but a review upgraded it to 9. India eventually reached 54 to tie the set and secure the gold.
Kumkum finished with scores of 10, X, 10, 10, 9, 10, 9 and 10 across her eight arrows. Her final arrow was a 10, coming when India needed to match South Korea’s score.
Ankita also played a key role after the team changed the shooting order for the final. She had shot second in the semifinal against China, where her six arrows read 7, 8, 8, 9, 8 and 8. For the final, she was moved to the lead position, with Kirti shooting second and Kumkum last.
The change worked. Ankita responded with 9, 9, 10, 10, 10, 8, 9 and 9 for a total of 74 from eight arrows. Kirti scored 67, with her sequence reading 9, 7, 8, 8, 9, 9, 8 and 9.
While overall arrow totals do not decide recurve archery matches, which are determined by sets, the numbers reflected how India managed the pressure across the final.
The victory followed a 5-1 semifinal win over China. India stayed composed throughout, with Kirti producing crucial 10s with her final arrows in the opening two sets.
For India’s women’s recurve team, the gold represents a major breakthrough. Ankita was part of the side that won bronze at the 2022 Asian Games in Hangzhou, where India did not reach the final.
This time, there was no silver to settle for and no repeat of South Korea’s long reign. India had finally climbed to the top of the podium.
UNI TB RSA
Tags: #Asian Games archery: India break South Korea’s long reign to win historic recurve gold
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