Indian Mixed Compound Archery Team Reaches Finals at Asian Games 2026
The Indian mixed compound archery team secures a spot in the finals, defeating Thailand 156-155 at the Asian Games 2026 in Okazaki.
Okazaki, September 30 (Daily Kiran) : The Indian mixed compound archery team, featuring Rajesh Jadhav and Chikita Taniparthi, has advanced to the finals of the Asian Games 2026. The duo triumphed over Thailand’s Pirawat Rattanapongkiat and Kanokanapus Kaewchomfu with a close score of 156-155 in the semifinals held at Okazaki Chuo Sogo Park Multipurpose Square.
The Indian pair will face the winner of the semifinal match between South Korea and China. This marks Chikita’s second opportunity for a gold medal in these games, following her earlier victory in the women’s team event alongside Prithika Pradeep and Jyoti Surekha Vennam, where they defeated China 238-234.
In their semifinal match, Rajesh and Chikita started strong, scoring three 10s and a 9. Thailand had a shaky start, managing a 9 and an 8 before hitting two 10s. After the first end, India led 39-37.
The second round saw Kanokanapus score a 9 while Pirawat managed a 10. Both Chikita and Rajesh answered back with 10s, extending India’s lead to three points. By the end of the second round, India was ahead 77-75, despite both Indian archers scoring 9s.
Thailand began the third round with a strong 10, but India maintained its advantage, finishing at 117-115. The final round saw Thailand start strong as well, but Chikita’s 9 reduced India’s lead to just one point. However, Rajesh’s 10 helped India regain a slight edge at 136-135. Despite pressure from Thailand, who scored two 10s, Chikita and Rajesh sealed the win with two final 10s, securing their place in the finals.
This victory represents India’s seventh gold medal at the current version of this continental tournament. Overall, India has amassed 53 medals, including seven golds, 21 silvers, and 25 bronzes. The Indian men’s compound team is also set to compete in the semifinals against South Korea on Wednesday, continuing a successful archery campaign that has already seen India claim five golds, two silvers, and two bronzes at the Hanzhou 2023 Asian Games.
