India’s women’s compound archery team delivered a spectacular gold-medal performance on Day 12 of the Asian Games 2026, while the country’s challenge continued to gather strength across archery, shooting and boxing. The defending champions matched the world-record score in the women’s team final, providing another major boost to India’s medal campaign in Aichi-Nagoya.
Asian Games 2026: India’s Day 12 Performance
Day 12, September 30, brought India into another crucial phase of the Games, with medal opportunities spread across archery, shooting, boxing, wrestling, hockey and other disciplines. India entered the day after securing eight medals on the previous day, including two golds, and had three compound-archery teams in contention for medals.
The opening phase of the day quickly produced a significant breakthrough as the women’s compound team secured gold against China.
Record-Equalling Archery Gold Sets the Tone
Jyothi Surekha Vennam, Prithika Pradeep and Chikitha Taniparthi defeated China 238-234 in the final to retain India’s Asian Games title. Their 238-point score equalled the existing world and Asian record set by South Korea in 2014.
The achievement carries significance beyond a single gold medal:
· India has continued its medal-winning run in the women’s compound team event since its introduction at the Asian Games.
· Jyothi Surekha Vennam has now featured in India’s medal-winning teams across all four editions of the event.
· For Prithika and Chikitha, the triumph represents a major milestone on the continental stage.
The victory also strengthened India’s position in the overall medal standings, with the country moving to seven gold medals at that stage.
Mixed Compound Team Adds Another Gold
Archery produced another dramatic finish as Chikitha Taniparthi and Sahil Rajesh Jadhav defeated South Korea in the compound mixed-team final. The contest went to a shoot-off after the scores were level, with the Indian pair holding their nerve under pressure to secure gold. The result also provided an important pathway towards qualification for the 2028 Olympic cycle.
Shooting remained another important source of Indian medal opportunities, with Kynan Chenai and Neeru Dhanda competing in the trap mixed-team event on Day 12 after Neeru had already made history by winning the women’s individual trap gold on the previous day.
Boxing Keeps India’s Podium Challenge Alive
Boxing added further depth to India’s campaign. Priya Ghanghas secured bronze after losing her 60kg semifinal, while Lovlina Borgohain advanced towards the women’s 75kg final, keeping another gold-medal possibility alive. India also entered the day with Kapil Pokhariya among its boxing semifinalists.
A Broader Medal Base Emerges
The significance of Day 12 lies in the breadth of India’s challenge. Athletics had already delivered a substantial medal haul, including the historic women’s 4x400m relay gold, while men’s and women’s kabaddi had supplied gold medals earlier in the Games.
Gold Rush Signals a Stronger Sporting Foundation
Day 12 demonstrated that India’s Asian Games campaign is being sustained by several sporting strengths rather than a single discipline. The record-equalling archery triumph provided the headline, but continued performances in shooting, boxing, athletics and kabaddi underline the expanding depth of India’s medal challenge. As the Games enter their decisive closing phase, that breadth could remain central to the country’s final medal tally.
(With agency inputs)
