New Delhi: Indian compound archers dominated the penultimate day of Asia Cup-World Ranking Tournament Stage 1, clinching the mixed team gold and women’s team silver, while also delivering a clinical display in the men’s individual category in Bangkok, Thailand, on Friday.
The individual medals helped India’s tally swell to two gold, two silver and four bronze medals, equal to the eight-medal haul from the previous edition.
There is a big chance of a further boost to the medals tally as the Indian contingent is in contention for two more finals later in the day – women’s recurve individual (Ridhi Phor) and men’s recurve team.
If the Indian archers finish on the podium in the remaining competitions of the penultimate day, the number of medals will surpass the tally of the 2025 Stage 1 event.
Men’s archers headline dominant day with clean sweep in individual category
Men’s compound archers sweeping the individual section was the main highlight of the day as Uday Kamboj edged past Prathamesh Jawkar 145-144 in a thrilling all-Indian final to win his maiden international gold. Veteran archer Rajat Chauhan secured bronze.
It was Chauhan who confirmed the Indian clean sweep with three perfect arrows in the final end to beat local favourite Peerawat Rattanapongkiat 145-144 in a thrilling bronze playoff.
The 31-year-old former World Championships silver medallist overcame a two-point deficit to claim the podium finish.
He turned the tables in the fourth end, dropping just one point while Peerawat slipped to 27 points, shooting in the ‘8-ring’.
Level t 115-all in the final end, Chauhan delivered the goods with three perfect 10s to claim a stunning win by a solitary point to earn India’s fourth bronze medal.
It also confirmed a clean sweep for the country’s archers in the event, as the following match was an all-Indian final.
In the women’s compound individual section, eighteen-year-old Tejal Salve defeated Russia’s Mariia Dimidiuk, who was competing under a neutral flag, 144-135 to win the bronze.
Chauhan-Chikitha bag mixed team gold
In the morning session, the top-seeded compound mixed team pair of Chikitha Taniparthi and Chauhan kept their composure against second-seeded Malaysia 158-156 in a nervy gold-medal clash.
The top podium spot marked a brilliant turnaround after India had returned empty-handed in the mixed team event in the previous edition.