India Retain Asian Games Women’s Compound Team Gold, Equal World Record

India retained the women’s compound team gold at the Asian Games with a commanding 238-234 victory over China at the Okazaki Chuo Sogo Park Multipurpose Square on Wednesday.

The Indian trio of Chikitha Taniparthi, Prithika Pradeep and Jyothi Surekha Vennam produced a composed performance under pressure to successfully defend the title. Their winning score of 238 equalled the world record set by South Korea at the 2014 Asian Games in Incheon.

The victory also added another gold to India’s campaign at the ongoing continental event, taking the country’s medal tally to 53 — seven gold, 21 silver and 25 bronze.

India entered the final after overcoming South Korea in the semifinals. Against China, the team made a strong start, taking a 30-28 lead after the opening end. Despite Chikitha recording a nine in the first rotation of the second end, Prithika and Jyothi continued their consistent run of 10s as India maintained control.

Both teams began the second end with a 9 and two 10s. China then managed another nine alongside two 10s, while India responded with three perfect 10s to move three points ahead at 119-116.

China kept the pressure on in the third end, opening with three 10s. Chikitha began India's sequence with a nine, but Prithika and Jyothi followed with 10s to protect the lead. India then finished the end with three consecutive 10s to take a 178-175 advantage into the final stage.

The Chinese team opened the final end with two 9s and a 10, but India answered with three 10s. China then produced three successive 10s in its final sequence to stay within striking distance. The Indian trio, however, remained flawless, closing out the contest with three more 10s to seal the 238-234 victory and the gold medal.

The triumph continues India's strong record in compound archery at the Asian Games. India had won silver in the women's compound team event in 2018 and bronze in 2014 before claiming the title in 2023.

The Hangzhou Asian Games marked India's most successful archery campaign at the continental event, with the country winning a record nine medals — five gold, two silver and two bronze. Indian compound archers were particularly dominant, sweeping all five gold medals available in the discipline, while the recurve teams added a silver and a bronze.

The latest victory underlines the growing strength and consistency of India's compound archery programme on the Asian stage.