The Indian men’s compound archery team achieved a remarkable feat by securing their third consecutive gold medal at the ongoing Asian Games, triumphing over China in a thrilling final held in Aichi-Nagoya on Wednesday.
The final score was 238-237 in favor of India. Sahil Jadhav emerged as the standout performer, achieving a flawless record by hitting all 10s. His teammates, Kushal Dalal and Ganesh Mani Ratnam, also contributed significantly to this victory. This win marks India’s 58th medal at the Asian Games 2026, including 10 golds and 21 bronze medals.
China began the match strong, scoring three perfect 10s, while India faced an early setback with Kushal scoring a nine, trailing by a point after the first round. In the second rotation, China maintained their perfect streak, while India managed a nine from Ganesh and two 10s from Sahil and Kushal, leaving India behind 60-58, according to ESPN.
Despite India’s efforts, China continued to excel, maintaining a two-point lead at halftime with a score of 120-118.
In the third round, India shot three perfect 10s, bringing their total to 148 out of 150, while China scored a 10, a 9, and another 10, reducing their lead to just one point at 149-148.
As the competition progressed, India kept applying pressure, but China held onto a slim lead of 179-178.
In the final end, the Indian trio delivered perfect 10s, while China managed an eight (subject to review) and two 10s, maintaining a one-point lead at 208-207. Sahil’s final shot was a 10, completing his perfect record, while Kushal and Ganesh also scored 10s. China responded with three 10s, awaiting a review for a shot deemed an eight. Ultimately, India emerged victorious.
Earlier, the trio of Sahil, Kushal, and Ganesh defeated South Korea 236-229 in the semifinals, paving the way for their title match.
Women’s Team Strikes Gold, Equals World Record
In another impressive display, the Indian women’s archery team, consisting of Jyothi Surekha Vennam, Chikitha Taniparthi, and Prithika Pradeep, secured a gold medal by defeating China in the women’s compound archery final, as reported by ESPN.
The Indian archers showcased exceptional skill, winning the match 238-234. They maintained their lead from the outset, with Jyothi claiming her fourth Asian Games gold, while Chikitha and Prithika celebrated their first Asiad gold medals. Notably, they equaled South Korea’s world record of 238, established in 2014, to clinch the gold.
Mixed Team Completes Golden Hat-trick
Later, the mixed team of Chikitha Taniparthi and Sahil Jadhav secured the gold medal in the compound mixed team event after a nail-biting shoot-off against South Korea on Wednesday. This victory also granted India a qualification spot for the compound mixed team event at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics.
The Indian pair displayed remarkable composure in a tense final, tying the scores and forcing a shoot-off, which they ultimately won to secure the gold medal.