New Delhi [India], October 2 (ANI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi wished Indian recurve archers on their historic ladies’s recurve gold and blended staff recurve silver medal wins on the ongoing Asian Games, saying that their triumphs will function inspiration to younger archers and showcase their ‘ability and zeal’.Â
India produced a shocking upset in ladies’s recurve archery as Kumkum Mohod, Ankita Bhakat and Kirti Sharma defeated South Korea 5-3 within the gold medal match on the Asian Games 2026 on Friday to say the nation’s first-ever medal within the self-discipline on the continental showpiece. On the opposite hand, Indian archers Dhiraj and Kumkum secured India’s first-ever blended recurve archery silver medal after dropping 3-5 to China’s Zhu Jingyi and Li Mengqi within the gold-medal match on Friday.
Posting on X, PM Modi wrote about India’s history-making ladies’s recurve trio that their ‘landmark victory will encourage numerous younger archers’.Â
, ‘A historic Gold that has delighted your entire nation. Congrats to Ankita Bhakat, Kumkum Anil Mohod and Kirti on successful India’s first-ever Gold Medal within the Women’s Recurve Team occasion on the Asian Games. Their composure and precision in a carefully fought last had been outstanding. This landmark victory will encourage numerous younger archers throughout the nation. India is pleased with our champions! Best needs to them for his or her upcoming endeavours: PM @narendramodi.’
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PM Modi additionally hailed Dhiraj and Kumkum for his or her ‘ability and zeal’.Â
‘A splendid Silver! Proud of Dhiraj Bommadevara and Kumkum Anil Mohod on successful the Silver Medal within the Recurve Mixed Team occasion on the Asian Games. They displayed outstanding ability and zeal, giving our nation the first-ever Silver on this occasion on the Asian Games. Congratulations to each our archers on this memorable achievement and greatest needs for his or her upcoming endeavours: PM @narendramodi,’ posted PM Modi.Â
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In the ladies’s recurve last, the Indian trio held their nerve towards the dominant South Korean aspect, with 17-year-old Kumkum rising because the star of the ultimate and delivering two essential 10s within the closing levels to seal a historic victory, based on ESPN.
India, competing of their first-ever recurve ladies’s staff last on the Asian Games, had been up towards a South Korean aspect that has historically dominated the self-discipline. The Koreans had three archers within the high 4 of the qualification rankings, whereas India’s three finalists had completed tenth, twentieth and twenty fifth.
But India made the right begin to the ultimate.
South Korea posted 54 within the opening set, however India matched the rating after Ankita started with a 9, Kirti adopted with a 7, and Kumkum produced a ten underneath stress to pressure a 1-1 cut up.
The second set adopted an identical sample, with each groups ending on 56. Ankita struck two 10s whereas Kumkum once more delivered a ten along with her last arrow to make sure India remained degree at 2-2.
India then made the decisive transfer within the third set.
Kirti opened with a ten, Ankita added a 9 and Kumkum adopted with one other 9 to offer India a one-point lead after the primary rotation. South Korea faltered within the second rotation, with all three archers recording 8s, leaving them on 51.
India wanted solely 24 factors from their last three arrows to win the set. Kirti managed an 8, Ankita added a 9 and Kumkum produced one other 10 to offer India a 55-51 set victory and a 4-2 lead.
With the gold medal inside attain, India confronted one other nervy last set.
South Korea responded with a powerful opening rotation, scoring 28 to take a two-point benefit. India started their response with a 9 from Kirti and Ankita added one other 9, leaving Kumkum needing an ideal 10 to degree the set at 54 and safe the gold.
The teenager delivered as soon as once more.
Kumkum’s 10 gave India the required 28 factors, tying the fourth set and handing them a 5-3 victory within the last.
The gold additionally marked India’s first-ever medal within the ladies’s recurve staff occasion on the Asian Games.
Kumkum, from Maharashtra, was instrumental all through the ultimate, repeatedly producing 10s when India wanted them most, whereas Ankita’s expertise helped regular the staff throughout essential moments.
Coming to the blended archery staff last, the Indian pair, who had defeated Japan 5-3 within the semifinal earlier within the day, struggled to seek out their vary within the opening two units and fell 0-4 behind earlier than mounting a fightback, based on ESPN.
China dominated the opening set 38-34 to take a 2-0 lead. Zhu produced two 10s, whereas Li added an 8 and a ten as China established an early benefit.
India once more fell quick within the second set, dropping 35-37. Kumkum managed solely two 8s, whereas Dhiraj contributed a 9 and a ten, however Zhu and Li mixed for 37 to place China 4-0 forward.
Facing the prospect of the match ending within the third set, India responded strongly. Kumkum opened with an 8 earlier than hitting a ten along with her second arrow, whereas Dhiraj added a ten and a 9 to take India to 37.
China wanted 18 factors from their last two arrows to seal the gold, however after Zhu’s 10, Li might handle solely a 7. India gained the set 37-36 to remain alive at 2-4.
The fourth set went right down to the ultimate arrow. India posted 37, with Kumkum hitting a 9 and a ten and Dhiraj including a pair of 9s.
China wanted 19 from their last two arrows to win the match. Zhu shot a 9 earlier than Li delivered a ten to take China to 37, which tied the set and helped the Chinese pair seal the gold medal with a 5-3 victory.
The end result additionally meant India missed out on the automated Los Angeles 2028 Olympic qualification quota hooked up to the blended staff occasion. China secured the quota by successful the gold. (ANI)