Indian archers continued their sensational campaign at the Asian Games 2026 by adding a monumental milestone to the country's sporting records. Following an impressive haul of gold medals across various disciplines, the national contingent also stamped its authority in the recurve category. For the very first time in Asian Games history, India climbed the podium in the mixed recurve archery competition, with the duo of Dhiraj Bommadevara and 17-year-old Kumkum Anil Mohod clinching a historic silver medal. Although the Indian pair was edged out 5-3 by China in a fiercely contested gold medal clash, their runner-up finish marks a watershed moment for Indian archery.
Ending an Eight-Year Drought in Mixed Recurve Archery
The mixed recurve archery event was introduced to the Asian Games roster in 2018. Across the initial editions, including the 2018 Jakarta-Palembang Games and the 2022 Hangzhou Games, Indian archers had returned empty-handed in this specific category. The drought finally came to an end at the 2026 Games as Dhiraj Bommadevara and Kumkum Anil Mohod held their nerve throughout the tournament to secure India's maiden podium finish in the event, etching their names into the nation's sporting lore after two previous failed attempts.
A Tense Final Battle Against China
The gold medal encounter tested both pairs in demanding conditions, with China seizing the early initiative. In the opening set, the Chinese archers held their ground to prevail by a razor-thin margin of 38-37, immediately securing a 2-0 set-point lead. Dhiraj and Kumkum rallied swiftly in the second set, finding their rhythm and matching their opponents shot for shot. The set concluded in a 37-37 tie, allowing China to retain their 2-0 advantage in the match score.
China pushed ahead again in the third set, edging past the Indian duo 37-36 to collect two crucial points. The fourth set saw intense competition from both sides, finishing tied once more at 37-37. That shared scoreline confirmed a 5-3 overall victory for the Chinese side. While slipping behind in the tightly contested first and third sets cost India the title, the silver medal finish represents the best ever performance by an Indian mixed recurve pairing on the Asian stage.
Double Glory for Teenage Sensation Kumkum Anil Mohod
Prior to her mixed recurve triumph alongside Dhiraj, 17-year-old Kumkum Anil Mohod had already experienced golden success earlier in the day. She was an integral part of the Indian squad that captured the gold medal in the women's recurve team event, overcoming formidable Olympic champion South Korea in the final. Delivering two major podium finishes in a single day, including a gold against world-class opposition and a pioneering mixed recurve silver, has firmly established Kumkum as one of the rising superstars of international archery.
