Ankita Bhakat capped a sensational day, stunning Paris Olympics silver-medallist Nam Suhyeon of South Korea 7-3 while Dhiraj Bommadevara also won his final as India clinched gold medals in both men’s and women’s event at the Asian Archery Championship here on Friday.
Dhiraj defeated compatriot Rahul 6-2 in the final to make it a 1-2 for India.
Ankita had earlier knocked out her longtime senior teammate, former world No. 1 Deepika, in the semifinals. Locked at 5-5, both archers shot a nine in the shoot-off, but Ankita’s arrow was closer to the centre, sending her into the title clash. Ankita began the final in commanding fashion, firing two 10s to take the opening set 29-27.
The second set ended in a scrappy 27-27 draw as both archers faltered. Ankita slipped to an 8 while Nam dropped to a 7. Nam levelled the match by claiming the third set 28-26, with Ankita unable to find a single 10. But the Indian hit back brilliantly in the fourth, nailing two 10s in a superb 29-28 effort to lead 5-3. Showing steely composure in the decider, Ankita once again delivered two 10s to clinch the gold, completing a breakthrough triumph against one of Asia’s most consistent performers. India also secured the women’s recurve bronze after Sangeeta edged out veteran five-time Olympian Deepika Kumari 6-5 in a dramatic shoot-off.
Indian contingent ended its campaign with 10 medals — six gold, three silver and one bronze medal to top the standings. In the men’s final, having lost the first set, Dhiraj was near flawless to knock out 33 year-old veteran Jang Chaehwan 6-2 to enter the final. The Indian lost the first set by one point, but came back strongly with three 10s and take the second set and bring it 2-2 level. He continued his menacing form with two successive 10s and one 9 to take the third set 29-27 and make it 4-2. He drilled in another hat-trick of 10s to seal the win.
India stun Korea to win men’s recurve team gold
India’s men’s recurve team upstaged Korea in the final to win the gold medal at the Asian Archery Championships here on Friday.
This was India’s first gold in the men’s recurve team event at the championships since 2007. Korea were unbeaten in the event since 2013. The Indian team, comprising Yashdeep Sanjay Bhoge, Atanu Das and Rahul, emerged victorious by a slender 5-4 margin courtesy of a shoot-off. Both the teams shot 29 apiece in the shoot-off but India won gold as Rahul’s arrow was closest to the centre.
Meanwhile, the recurve mixed team of Anshika Kumari and Yashdeep lost the bronze medal match to the Korean duo of Jang Minhee and Seo Mingi.
Later in th day, five-time Olympian Deepika Kumari and Ankita Bhakat square off in the recurve women’s individual semifinal, while another Indian, Sangeeta, will be up against Paris Olympic silver medallist Nam Suhyeon in the semifinal.
In the men’s individual event, Dhiraj Bommadevara will take on Korea’s Jang Chaehwan, and Rahul will lock horns with another Korean Seo Mingi.
On Thursday, compound archers bagged five medals to wrap up their campaign.
The compound women’s final was an all-Indian affair – with reigning Asian Games champion Jyothi Surekha Vennam claiming her third individual gold medal at the Asian Championships after previously winning it in 2015 and 2021.
Vennam, who played a near-perfect round of 149 in the semifinals against Chinese Taipei’s Chen Si-yu, overcame a tough challenge from 17-year-old compatriot Prithika Pradeep, silver medallist at Winnipeg 2025, before winning the final by two points (147-145).
Earlier, the Indian challengers Vennam and Prithika combined with Deepshikha to win the compound women team gold over Korea, represented by Oh Yoohyun, Park Yerin and Park Jungyoon.
However, the world no. 10 Abhishek Verma-led men’s comound team of Sahil Rajesh Jadhav, Prathamesh Bhalchandra Fuge fell short by one point to in the final against Kazakhstan (229-230) to settle for the silver.
Meanwhile, the compound mixed team, comprising veteran archer Verma and youngster Deepshikha, bagged the gold after beating the local duo Bonna Akter and Himu Bachhar, 153-155.