Indian archers secure silver after tough battle against China
Kumkum Mohod and Dhiraj Bommadevara captured a silver medal for India in the mixed recurve archery team event at the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya. Archery remains one of the most intensely contested disciplines at this continental tournament, regularly acting as a harsh testing ground for global Olympic readiness. Facing formidable Chinese opponents Zhu Jingyi and Li Mengqi during Friday's gold-medal clash, the Indian duo endured a narrow 3-5 defeat. Beyond the gold medal, this result meant India missed out on securing an automatic qualification quota for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics, a prize claimed by the victorious Chinese team.
Entering the final fresh off a 5-3 semifinal victory over Japan, the Indian pair initially struggled to find their rhythm. Official match statistics show China quickly took control of the opening set, securing a 38-34 win. Zhu hit two perfect 10s, while Li contributed an 8 and a 10, establishing a fast 2-0 lead for their team. During the second set, India again fell slightly short of their target. Kumkum managed two 8s, and Dhiraj shot a 9 and a 10. In response, Zhu and Li combined for an impressive 37 points. This consistent performance earned China a 37-35 set victory, pushing their overall match advantage to 4-0.
Staring at a potential straight-set defeat, the Indian side mounted a determined fightback in the third round. Kumkum followed an opening 8 with a clutch 10, while Dhiraj shot a 10 and a 9, bringing India's total to 37. Needing 18 points from their final two arrows to win the match, China faltered. Zhu landed a 10, but Li only managed a 7. This slight drop allowed India to clinch the set 37-36 and bring the match score to 2-4.
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Tension peaked in the fourth set, which was decided by the very last arrow. India posted a solid 37, with Kumkum hitting a 9 and a 10 alongside two 9s from Dhiraj. China required 19 points from their closing arrows to win the gold. Zhu shot a 9, leaving Li with the pressure of the final shot. Li delivered a perfect 10, tying the set at 37 points each. This tie gave China the single point needed to win the match 5-3, securing both the top podium spot and the coveted Olympic quota. Despite missing the gold, Kumkum and Dhiraj concluded a strong day of competition with their hard-earned silver.
