Nagoya, Sep 30: India added another gold medal to its Asian Games 2026 tally after Chikitha Taniparthi and Sahil Rajesh Jadhav clinched the mixed team compound archery title on Wednesday.
The Indian duo defeated South Korea's Jungyoon Park and Yonghee Choi in a tense shoot-off after the two pairs finished level at 157 points following the fourth end.
With the gold medal at stake, Chikitha and Sahil held their nerve, and both delivered perfect 10s. Park also struck a 10, but Choi could only manage a 9, handing India the victory.
The triumph marked India's second archery gold of the Games and the country's seventh gold medal overall. It also capped a memorable day for Chikitha, who had earlier helped India's women's compound team retain its Asian
Games title.
Chikitha & Sahil Overcome Thailand in Semifinal
The Indian mixed team had booked its place in the gold-medal contest after edging past Thailand 156-155 in the semifinal.
Chikitha and Sahil made a strong start in the semifinal and established an early two-point advantage. The pair maintained their composure through the contest, although Chikitha slipped to a 9 towards the closing stages.
Sahil, however, kept his focus under pressure and ensured India stayed ahead to secure a place in the final.
Chikitha Completes Golden Double
The mixed team gold came only hours after Chikitha had stood on the top step of the podium with Jyothi Surekha Vennam and Prithika Pradeep in the women's compound team event.
The Indian trio produced a dominant display to defeat China 238-234 in the final and successfully defend the gold medal won at the 2023 Hangzhou Asian Games.
India also equalled the world record with its score of 238, matching the mark set by South Korea at the 2014 Incheon Asian Games.
The Indians seized control early, winning the opening end 60-58 before repeating the score in the second end. They entered the end with a 178-176 advantage.
China struggled under pressure in the decisive phase, dropping two 9s, while India delivered six consecutive 10s to seal the title and match the world record.
China's Wunier, Yue Wang and Fangyao Wei settled for silver, while South Korea's Park Jungyoon, Park Yerin and Kang Yeonseo claimed bronze after defeating Chinese Taipei.
India's Strong Record in Asian Games Archery
The women's compound team has remained a consistent medal-winning force since the event was introduced at the Asian Games in 2014. India won bronze in 2014, silver in 2018, and gold in both Hangzhou 2023 and Aichi-Nagoya 2026.
India also won five archery gold medals at the 2023 Asian Games, and the latest victories underline the country's continued dominance in the compound events.
For Chikitha, Wednesday proved particularly significant, as she became part of two gold-medal-winning Indian teams on the same day.
