The Indian compound archery team of Chikitha Taniparthi, Prithika Pradeep and Jyothi Surekha Vennam defeated China 238-234 at Okazaki Chuo Sogo Park Multipurpose Square on Wednesday to defend their Asian Games gold medal.

President of India Droupadi Murmu and several Union ministers, including Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, congratulated the Indian women’s compound archery team for retaining the title.

“Heartiest congratulations to Taniparthi Chikitha, Prithika Pradeep and Jyothi Surekha Vennam on winning the Gold Medal in the Women’s Compound Archery Team event at the Asian Games 2026! Your exceptional precision, composure and teamwork have made the nation proud. May this memorable achievement inspire you to reach many more milestones,” President Murmu wrote on X.

“Bullseye for Gold! Heartiest congratulations to Jyothi Surekha Vennam, Prithika Pradeep, and Taniparthi Chikitha on winning Gold in the Women’s Compound Team event at #AsianGames2026. The trio also equalled the World Record in a masterclass of precision and skill,” Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya wrote on X.

India won silver in the event in 2018 and bronze in 2014. The victory marked India’s seventh gold medal at the ongoing Asian Games. India’s overall medal tally stood at 53, comprising seven gold, 21 silver and 25 bronze medals.

The Indian trio defeated South Korea in the semifinal before overcoming China in the final with a world-record-equalling score of 238. The South Korean team had set the previous world record in Incheon in 2014.

India opened the final with a 30-28 lead and extended its advantage to three points in the second end, despite Chikitha scoring a nine in the first rotation. Prithika and Jyothi maintained their perfect form, consistently hitting 10s.

China opened the second end with a nine and two 10s, while India matched that score. China then added two 10s and a nine, but the Indian trio responded with three consecutive 10s in the second rotation to increase their lead to 119-116.

China continued to apply pressure in the third end. The Chinese archers opened with three 10s, while Chikitha started India’s sequence with a nine. Prithika and Jyothi followed with 10s to preserve India’s advantage. China then recorded a nine and two 10s in the second rotation, but India answered with three 10s to take a 178-175 lead.

China began the final end with two 9s and a 10, while all three Indian archers responded with 10s. China then produced three 10s in its final sequence to keep the contest close. India, however, finished with three more 10s to secure a 238-234 victory and retain the gold medal.

India enjoyed its most successful Asian Games archery campaign at Hangzhou 2023, where it won a record nine medals, including five gold, two silver and two bronze. Compound archers claimed all five gold medals on offer, while India’s recurve teams added one silver and one bronze.