India Stun South Korea for Historic Asian Games Women's Archery Gold

India's women's recurve archery team claimed a historic Asian Games gold medal on Friday, defeating powerhouse South Korea 5-3 in the final at the Aichi-Nagoya Games.

First gold ends Korea's final dominance

Kirti Sharma, Ankita Bhakat and teenager Kumkum Anil Mohod secured India's first Asian Games title in the women's recurve team event. Sportstar and The Hindu reported it was the first time since the inaugural Asian Games that South Korea had been beaten in a women's team recurve final, ending a streak of consecutive golds dating back decades.

Yonhap News Agency confirmed South Korea were denied an eighth straight gold in the event and took silver. The Korean trio included Kang Chaeyoung, Lee Yunji and Oh Yejin, according to match coverage.

Kumkum's clutch arrows

In testing conditions at Okazaki Chuo Sogo Park Multipurpose Square, Kumkum repeatedly delivered under pressure. Sportstar described how the 17-year-old forced a first-set tie with an inner-10 and later found the bullseye when India needed a 10 to stay alive in the second set.

A change of shooting order helped India take the third set 55, and the Udham Singh-coached side then claimed the decisive set point after Korea had built an early lead in the fourth, Sportstar reported.

Path to the final

India had beaten China 5-1 in the semifinal, with China later taking bronze. The gold adds a landmark multi-sport achievement for India alongside its cricket campaign at the same Games.

Reporting is based on Sportstar, The Hindu, Yonhap and The Indian Express.