India Retain Asian Games Compound Archery Gold, Equal World Record

 Chikitha Taniparthi, Prithika Pradeep and Jyothi Surekha Vennam defeat China 238-234 to secure India’s seventh gold in Nagoya

Nagoya, Sept 2026 : India’s women’s compound archery team of Chikitha Taniparthi, Prithika Pradeep and Jyothi Surekha Vennam successfully defended its Asian Games title, defeating China 238-234 in the final on Wednesday and equalling the world record in the process.

The victory earned India its seventh gold medal at the 2026 Asian Games. The triumph also marked Jyothi’s fourth Asian Games gold, while Chikitha and Prithika secured their maiden titles at the continental event.

India had earlier set the world, Asian and Asian Games record of 238 during the competition when the same trio defeated Mongolia in the pre-quarterfinals. That score equalled the mark established by South Korea at the 2014 Asian Games in Incheon.

The defending champions faced a much tighter challenge from South Korea in the semifinal, narrowly winning 234-233. India raised its performance in the final, adding four points to its semifinal score and matching the record mark.

Prithika and Jyothi were flawless, scoring 80 points apiece after all eight of their arrows landed in the 10-ring. Chikitha contributed 78 points, with her two nines in the second and third ends accounting for India’s only dropped points.

India posted scores of 60, 59, 59 and 60 across the four ends, while China managed 58, 58, 60 and 58. The Indian trio therefore hit the 10-ring with 22 of their 24 arrows, finishing just two points short of a perfect score of 240.

India made a strong start, producing three consecutive 10s from the opening arrows and completing a perfect first end to take a 60-58 lead.

Chikitha’s nine at the start of the second end handed India its first dropped point, but Prithika and Jyothi maintained the pressure with accurate 10s. All three Indians then found the 10-ring with their second arrows, helping India lead 119-116 at the halfway stage.

China responded strongly in the third end, producing a perfect 60. India scored 59 after another nine from Chikitha, reducing the margin to 178-176 and keeping China firmly in contention.

India, however, delivered under pressure in the decisive final end. China opened its final rotation with a 10 and two nines for 28 points, while all three Indians hit 10s to extend their advantage to 208-204.

China then finished with three 10s to reach 234, but India matched the effort and closed the contest with another perfect end, reaching 238 to seal the gold medal.

Earlier, India had survived a tense semifinal against South Korea. The teams were level at 59-59 after the opening end before India established a three-point lead at 118-115. South Korea responded with a perfect 60 in the third end, cutting India’s advantage to 176-175.

Both teams scored 29 in the opening rotation of the final end, leaving India narrowly ahead at 205-204. South Korea eventually finished on 233, while India secured the points needed to prevail 234-233.

Prithika was India’s leading scorer in the semifinal with 79 points, followed by Jyothi with 78 and Chikitha with 77. South Korea later defeated Chinese Taipei 229-228 in the bronze-medal playoff.

The Indian trio had entered the competition as the second seeds behind China. Chikitha topped the individual qualification with a career-best 705 points, while Prithika scored 695 and Jyothi 699.