India’s women’s compound archery team delivered a record-equalling performance to defeat China 238-234 and retain its Asian Games title in Aichi-Nagoya on Wednesday.
The trio of Chikitha Taniparthi, Prithika Pradeep and Jyothi Surekha Vennam matched the world, Asian and Asian Games record on their way to gold, producing 22 tens from 24 arrows in the final.
The victory secured India’s seventh gold medal of the 2026 Asian Games. It was Jyothi’s fourth Asian Games gold, while Chikitha and Prithika claimed their first.
India’s score of 238 equalled the record set by South Korea at the 2014 Asian Games in Incheon and left the Indian team just two points short of a perfect 240.
Prithika and Jyothi shoot perfect scores
Prithika and Jyothi were flawless throughout the gold-medal contest, scoring perfect 80s after all eight arrows from each archer landed in the 10-ring.
Chikitha contributed 78, with two nines accounting for the only points India dropped during the final.
India opened strongly with a perfect 60 in the first end, immediately establishing a 60-58 advantage over China.
The defending champions followed with 59 in the second end. China managed 58, allowing India to extend its advantage to 119-116 at the halfway point.
China responded with a perfect 60 in the third end, while India scored 59 after Chikitha registered her second nine. The result narrowed India’s advantage to 178-176 heading into the final six arrows.
India then produced its decisive response.
China opened the final end with scores of 10, nine and nine, while all three Indian archers struck tens. That increased India’s advantage to 208-204 with three arrows remaining.
China finished with three consecutive tens to reach 234, but India matched that performance with another three tens to complete a perfect 60-point final end and secure the title with 238.
India survive tight semifinal against South Korea
India’s path to the gold-medal match included a much closer 234-233 semifinal victory over South Korea.
The teams were tied at 59 after the opening end before India established an advantage in the second. Another 59 from the Indian trio, compared with South Korea’s 56, gave India a 118-115 lead.
South Korea responded with a perfect 60 in the third end. India scored 58, reducing its lead to just one point at 176-175.
Both teams then recorded 29 with their first three arrows of the final end, keeping India ahead 205-204.
South Korea added another 29 to finish on 233, leaving India needing at least 29 from its final three arrows to advance without a shoot-off.
Chikitha and Prithika responded with tens before Jyothi scored nine, giving India exactly the 29 points required to seal a 234-233 victory.
Prithika led India’s scoring in the semifinal with 79, while Jyothi recorded 78 and Chikitha finished with 77.
Across the semifinal and final combined, Prithika dropped only one point from her 16 arrows.
South Korea went on to defeat Chinese Taipei in the bronze-medal match, while India completed its title defence with a record-equalling performance against China.
