Chikitha, Sahil win compound mixed team archery Gold after shoot-off thriller
Chikitha Taniparthi and Sahil Jadhav win compound mixed team archery Gold at Asian Games 2026 after a dramatic shoot-off against South Korea.
In a heart-stopping conclusion to the compound mixed team archery final at the Asian Games 2026, Indian archers Chikitha Taniparthi and Sahil Jadhav secured the Gold medal. The duo overcame a formidable South Korean pair in a high-stakes shoot-off, marking a historic moment for Indian archery.
This victory is not just about the podium finish; it also secures a vital qualification quota for India in the compound mixed team event for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics.
A Battle of Precision and Nerve
The final was a masterclass in concentration. From the very first set of arrows, the Indian pair showed no signs of intimidation. Chikitha and Sahil opened with perfect 10s, matching the clinical precision of South Korea's Park and Choi. After the initial four arrows, the score stood at a dead heat of 20-20.
India managed to seize the early momentum. In the first end, Chikitha and Sahil were flawless, hitting four consecutive 10s to finish the end with a perfect 40. South Korea trailed slightly with a 39, giving India a 40-39 advantage. The consistency continued into the second end, where the Indian duo maintained their rhythm, leading 80-78 at the halfway mark.
The Dramatic Turnaround and Shoot-off
As the match progressed into the final stages, the pressure intensified. While the South Korean team kept the gap minimal, India faced a momentary lapse when both archers scored 9s, allowing Korea to close in. The tension reached a breaking point in the final shots of the regulation round.
South Korea's Park and Choi delivered strong shots, leaving India needing 20 points to clinch the win outright. After Chikitha scored a 9 on her final arrow, Sahil stepped up and delivered a crucial 10, forcing the match into a decisive shoot-off.
The shoot-off was a nail-biter:
- Chikitha (India) scored a 10.
- Park (South Korea) also scored a 10, but his arrow was closer to the center.
- Sahil (India) maintained his composure with a 10.
- Choi (South Korea) needed at least a 9 to stay in the hunt but unfortunately hit a 9.
With Choi's 9, the Indian duo surged ahead to claim the Gold medal in a spectacle of skill and mental toughness.
India's Dominant Archery Campaign
This Gold medal adds to India's growing dominance in the archery arena at the 2026 Asian Games. It follows the spectacular performance of the women's compound archery team—consisting of Prithika Pradeep, Jyothi Surekha Vennam, and Chikitha Taniparthi—who previously defeated China to take the Gold.
With this latest triumph, India has now secured eight Gold medals at the games, bringing the total medal tally to 54, which includes 21 silvers and 25 bronzes.