India’s Gold Rush Continues at Asian Games: Kumkum Mohod Creates Archery History
India continued its strong campaign at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games in Japan, with athletes producing impressive performances across archery, boxing, wrestling and hockey. The country moved into fifth place in the overall medal standings after a series of gold-medal victories.Teenage archer Kumkum Mohod created history by winning gold in the women’s individual recurve event. She defeated South Korea’s Oh Yejin in a dramatic shoot-off after the final ended 5-5. Kumkum shot a perfect 10, while her opponent managed an 8. Her victory also secured an Olympic quota place for India for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.Earlier, India’s women’s recurve team comprising Ankita Bhakat, Kirti Sharma and Kumkum Mohod won gold after defeating South Korea 5-3 in the final. Kumkum and Dhiraj Bommadevara also secured silver in the mixed recurve team event.In boxing, Lovlina Borgohain won gold in the women’s 75kg category by defeating China’s Bao Ziyi 5-0. Parveen Hooda also secured gold in the women’s 65kg category after beating Chinese Taipei’s Nien-Chin Chen 3-2, while Ankush Panghal won gold in the men’s 80kg final.Wrestler Sujeet Kalkal produced a stunning comeback in the men’s 65kg freestyle final, recovering from a 4-9 deficit to defeat Tajikistan’s Abdulmazhid Kudiev 10-9 and claim gold.India’s women’s hockey team also ended a 44-year wait for an Asian Games gold by defeating defending champions China 1-0. Lalremsiami scored the decisive goal, while goalkeeper Savita Punia made a crucial save. The victory also secured a direct berth for India at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.India also added medals in sailing and sepaktakraw, with Nethra Kumanan winning bronze in the women’s dinghy event and the men’s quadrant team taking bronze.
