Kumkum Mohod Makes History with Gold Medal at Asian Games

Okazaki, October 3 (Daily Kiran) : In a remarkable achievement for Indian archery, 17-year-old Kumkum Mohod secured a gold medal in the women’s individual recurve event at the Asian Games held in Okazaki on October 3. This victory makes her the first Indian woman to win any medal in this category.

The final match was a nail-biter, ending in a 5-5 tie after five sets. Mohod triumphed in the shoot-off, scoring 10 to South Korea’s Yejin Oh, who managed an 8. This win not only earned Mohod the gold medal but also provided India with an individual quota spot for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games, with both athletes qualifying for their respective countries.

Mohod faced an uphill battle in the final after initially falling behind. Oh took the first set 29-27, giving her a 2-0 lead. The second set ended in a draw at 29-29, allowing Oh to extend her advantage to 3-1.

However, Mohod responded fiercely in the third set, scoring a perfect 30 with three consecutive 10s, while Oh finished with 29, leveling the match at 3-3. Oh regained the lead in the fourth set, winning it 28-27 and moving within one set point of the title at 5-3.

In the decisive fifth set, Mohod showcased her composure, starting strong with a 10 and finishing with another perfect 30. Oh managed only 28, leading to the shoot-off that determined the gold medalist.

This victory caps off a stellar campaign for Mohod at the Asian Games. She qualified for the finals after defeating reigning world champion and Olympic gold medalist Kang Chaeyang in the quarter-finals and later overcame 2025 World Championship silver medalist Jingyi Zhu of China 6-2 in the semi-finals.

Kumkum Mohod’s historic win marks a significant milestone for Indian women’s archery, solidifying her place in the sport’s history.

The bronze medal was claimed by China’s Yuwei Huang, who defeated compatriot Jingyi Zhu 6-4.