SPORTS
For the first time in 75 years, India defeated the defending champions in the final to win gold.
Asian Games 2026 Archery Gold Medal: India won its first gold medal on Day 14 of the 2026 Asian Games. The women's team defeated South Korea 5-3 in archery.
Keerthi, Kumkum and Ankita created history.
India has won its 11th gold medal at the 2026 Asian Games. The women's recurve team made history in archery by defeating South Korea 5-3. India's Kirti, Kumkum, and Ankita performed brilliantly under difficult conditions to secure the victory. This marks the first time in the 75-year history of the Asian Games that the Indian women's recurve team has won a gold medal at the Asian Games.
The match was neck and neck from the start. With the conditions unfavorable, it was extremely difficult for both teams to score a perfect 10. Both teams took a total of 48 shots, with only 12 of them scoring a ten. The difficult conditions also saw scores of 7s and 8s from both sides.
India got its 11th gold.
India and South Korea were tied 54-54 in the first set. The second set also saw both teams finish tied at 56-56. India took a significant lead in the third set, winning 55-51 to secure the set and secure two valuable points. By this point, India had taken a 4-2 lead.
India needed at least a draw in the final set. All hopes rested on Kumkum, who was determined to settle for nothing less than a 10 on her final shot. Had Kumkum not shot a 10, the match would have ended in a draw and the result would have been decided by a shoot-off.
Defeated champions South Korea
South Korea has always been the reigning champion of archery, having won a total of 94 medals in the sport. In women's recurve archery, South Korea is a 10-time Olympic champion, a former world champion, and has dominated the Asian Games for years. However, India's Kirti, Kumkum, and Ankita made history by winning the gold medal.
Fourth gold in archery
This is India's fourth gold medal in archery at the 2026 Asian Games. Previously, India had won gold medals in the women's team compound, mixed team compound, and men's team compound events. India's total medal count has now reached 67.
