India Defend Asian Games Compound Archery Gold With World-Record-Equalling Performance

India’s women’s compound archery team delivered under pressure when it mattered most, defeating China 238-234 to retain the Asian Games gold medal in the event and produce a world-record-equalling score.

Chikitha Taniparthi, Prithika Pradeep and Jyothi Surekha Vennam combined for a four-point victory over China in the gold medal match, completing a campaign that began with a tense semifinal against South Korea and ended with India once again on top of the Asian Games podium. The victory also gave India its seventh gold medal of the 2026 Asian Games.

More significantly, India's score of 238 equalled the women’s compound team world record of 238, previously set by South Korea at the 2014 Asian Games in Incheon.

The road to the final was far from straightforward. India entered the semifinal against South Korea as the defending Asian Games champions, having won gold in the discipline three years earlier. The contest was eventually moved to 6:25 AM IST, with China and Chinese Taipei having already contested the other semifinal.

China secured its place in the final by edging Chinese Taipei 230-229, setting up a meeting with India. Against South Korea, India started with 29 points from their first three arrows, while Korea immediately produced a perfect 30 to take the early lead. India responded in the second half of the opening end with three 10s. South Korea could only manage a 9 from Yerin Park, bringing the score level at 59-59.

The second end proved decisive in establishing India's control. After Chikitha opened with a 9, South Korea followed with three consecutive 9s. India capitalised, moving ahead 88-86. Three more perfect arrows then stretched the advantage to three points at 118-115.

South Korea refused to disappear from the contest. In the opening rotation of the third end, the Koreans produced two 10s and a 9, while Jyothi shot a 9 for India. The lead narrowed, but India remained ahead 147-143. Korea then responded with three consecutive 10s, reducing India's advantage to just one point at 174-173.

The semifinal was heading towards a tense finish.

The final end provided the decisive moment. South Korea continued to apply pressure, opening with two 10s and a 9. Chikitha began India's sequence with a 9, but Prithika and Jyothi responded with 10s to preserve the advantage. With the final arrows remaining, Korea needed to find perfection. Instead, after a remarkable run of 11 consecutive 10s, Yeonseo Kang registered a 9.

India did not give them another opening. Chikitha and Prithika both produced 10s with their final arrows, sending India into the gold medal match with a 234-233 victory.

It was a one-point semifinal decided by India's ability to stay composed during the closing sequence.

China Start Fast, India Respond

The final against China presented another test. China opened with 28 points after an initial 9 and two further arrows that were initially recorded as 9s, with one subsequently upgraded to a 10 on review. India's response was immediate. Chikitha, Prithika and Jyothi all found the 10-ring, giving India an early 30-28 lead.

The second half of the opening end saw both teams produce three perfect arrows, leaving India two points ahead at 60-58. China continued to stay within striking distance during the second end. After a 9 followed by two 10s, China reached 87. Chikitha responded with a 9, but Prithika and Jyothi again delivered 10s, moving India to 89-87.

China reached 116 at the halfway mark, but India answered with three more 10s to extend the lead to 119-116. The pattern was becoming clear: whenever China created pressure, India had an answer.

Prithika and Jyothi Remain Perfect

The third end saw China produce three 10s at the start, applying pressure on the Indian trio. Chikitha again registered a 9, but Prithika and Jyothi responded with 10s to keep India ahead 148-146. China then added 29 in its next rotation, but India produced three more 10s to stretch the advantage to 178-175. At that point, the final was entering its decisive phase.

China needed to find near-perfect scores throughout the closing end. Instead, another 9 left them with little room for error. India did not blink.

Chikitha, Prithika and Jyothi all produced 10s, and the final sequence confirmed India's four-point victory. The most striking statistic from the closing stages was the consistency of Prithika and Jyothi, who did not miss a single arrow in the final. Their perfect shooting became a defining feature of India's performance.

The 238-234 victory not only retained India's women's compound team title but also matched the world record set by Korea in Incheon in 2014. For Chikitha Taniparthi, Prithika Pradeep and Jyothi Surekha Vennam, the result combined accuracy with composure across two high-pressure matches. The semifinal against South Korea was decided by a single point. The final against China demanded another four ends of sustained precision.

India delivered in both. The gold also added another major result to India's Asian Games campaign, taking the country's gold-medal tally to seven.

Chikitha Taniparthi. Prithika Pradeep. Jyothi Surekha Vennam. Asian Games gold. A score of 238. And a world record equalled.