India won its first Asian Games gold medal in the women’s recurve team event on Friday, October 2, defeating South Korea 5-3 in the final at the Aichi-Nagoya Games.
The India women recurve archery gold was secured by Ankita Bhakat, Kirti Sharma and Kumkum Anil Mohod. The trio overcame the defending champions after sharing points in the first two sets, winning the third and holding their nerve with the final arrow of the match.
India women recurve archery gold decided by final arrow
India and South Korea tied the opening set 54-54, giving each team one set point. The second set also finished level at 56-56, leaving the final tied 2-2 after two sets.
India took control in the third. Kirti opened with a 10 before Ankita and Kumkum followed with nines. South Korea struggled on its closing arrows, and India won the set 55-51 to move 4-2 ahead.
South Korea responded strongly in the fourth set and finished with 54. India needed to tie the set to claim the title without a shoot-off. Kirti and Ankita both scored nine with their final arrows, leaving Kumkum needing a 10.
Kumkum hit the 10-ring, drawing the set 54-54 and giving India the point required for a 5-3 victory. South Korea’s team comprised Kang Chaeyoung, Lee Yoon-ji and Oh Ye-jin.
South Korea’s long Asian Games run ends
The result ended South Korea’s seven-title winning streak in the event. South Korean broadcaster SBS reported that the country had remained unbeaten in the women’s recurve team competition since the 1998 Bangkok Asian Games.
India had never previously reached the women’s recurve team final at the Asian Games. The team qualified for Friday’s title match by beating China 5-1 in the semifinal, while South Korea defeated Indonesia 6-0.
The victory also improved on India’s bronze medal in the event at the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou. It came two days after India’s women won the compound team title, strengthening the country’s archery campaign in Japan.
A breakthrough against the established leaders
South Korea has long been the dominant nation in Olympic recurve archery. India’s ability to remain level through the first two sets and deliver under pressure in the fourth made the result especially significant.
Kirti recovered after an uneven opening, Ankita provided steady scores, and Kumkum repeatedly produced 10s at decisive moments. Their combined performance converted India’s first appearance in the event’s Asian Games final into a historic title.
