Priya Ghanghas clinches bronze in women's 60 kg at Asian Games
Boxer Priya Ghanghas secures a bronze medal in the women's 60 kg category at the Asian Games 2026 after a tough semifinal battle.
Indian boxing star and Commonwealth Games gold medalist Priya Ghanghas secured a bronze medal in the women's 60 kg category at the ongoing Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. Despite a spirited performance, she fell short in her semifinal clash against China's Yang Chengyu.
A hard-fought battle in the ring
The semifinal match was a tactical encounter that saw both athletes trading significant blows. In the opening round, Yang Chengyu established early dominance with an aggressive approach. However, Ghanghas responded with sharp counter-punches, finding her rhythm midway through the round and landing effective combination shots. Despite Priya's mid-round surge, Yang closed the first round strongly, earning a narrow 3-2 decision from the judges.
The second and third rounds proved more difficult for the Indian boxer:
- Round Two: Yang initiated a flurry of punches, forcing a high-intensity exchange. The Chinese boxer managed to take the round with a 4-1 scoreline.
- Round Three: As the fight progressed into the final stage, Ghanghas struggled to penetrate Yang's defense. The Chinese athlete maintained control, securing the round 4-1.
With the loss, Priya Ghanghas adds a 26th bronze to India's growing medal tally at the 2026 Asian Games. India currently stands at 55 medals, including eight golds and 21 silvers.
Golden day for Indian Archery
While the boxing ring saw a bronze, the archery range was a source of pure celebration for Team India. The nation secured two massive gold medals on Wednesday, showcasing clinical precision against the world's best.
Women's Compound Archery Team Gold
The Indian women's compound archery trio, consisting of Jyothi Surekha Vennam, Chikitha Taniparthi, and Prithika Pradeep, delivered a masterclass performance to defeat China in the final. India maintained a consistent lead throughout the match, finishing with a score of 238-234. This victory marked a historic moment as Jyothi secured her fourth Asian Games gold, while Chikitha and Prithika earned their first Asiad gold medals.
Mixed Team Triumph and Olympic Qualification
In another thrilling display, Chikitha Taniparthi and Sahil Jadhav clinched the gold medal in the compound mixed team event. Facing off against South Korea, the duo had to endure a high-pressure shoot-off after the scores ended in a tie. India emerged victorious in the decider, not only securing the gold but also earning a crucial qualification quota for the compound mixed team event at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics.