Aichi-Nagoya: India’s women’s recurve archery team scripted history at the Asian Games by clinching the country’s first-ever gold medal in the event.
The Indian archers edged past favourites South Korea 5-3 in a thrilling final on Friday morning. India’s overall medal tally now stands at 68, with 12 golds.
The Indian side featured Ankita Bhakat, Kirti and Kumkum Mohd, while Korea fielded Kang Chae-young, Lee Yunji and Oh Yejin.
Both teams shared points in the first two sets, in windy conditions, scoring 54 and 56 respectively.
The Korean team, featuring world champion Kang, slipped in the third set with three straight 8s for a total of 52, while the Indian archers posted 55 to win the set.
Korea posted 54 in the fourth set. Kirti began with an 8, which was later revised to 9 on review, taking India’s total to 54 and levelling the set to secure a draw and clinch the gold, as reported by DNA.
India’s journey to the final included a comprehensive 5-1 semifinal win over China. The victory secured India’s spot in the gold-medal match against South Korea. It set the stage for a blockbuster final against South Korea, the reigning Olympic champions in the women’s recurve team event from the Paris 2024 Games.
India’s women’s compound team had claimed bronze at the 2023 Hangzhou Asian Games.
However, India had never made the final of the women’s recurve team event at the Asian Games before. The result thus marked both a first final and a first gold for India in the category.