Asian Games 2026: Chikitha-Sahil win compound mixed team gold in shoot-off thriller
Synopsis
Under the highest pressure, with the final locked at 157-157, Chikitha Taniparthi and Sahil Jadhav held their nerve to win compound mixed team archery gold in a shoot-off at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games 2026 — and in doing so, secured India a historic LA 2028 Olympic quota in a discipline making its Olympic debut.
Key Takeaways
Chikitha Taniparthi and Sahil Rajesh Jadhav won the compound mixed team archery gold at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games 2026 on 30 September .
The final ended level at 157-157 ; India won via a dramatic shoot-off against South Korea's Park Jungyoon and Choi Yonghee.
The victory secured India a quota place for compound mixed team archery at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics , the discipline's first-ever Olympic appearance.
Chikitha claimed her second gold of the Games, having also won earlier in the women's compound team event.
India's overall Asian Games tally stands at 56 medals — 8 gold, 21 silver, 27 bronze .
President Droupadi Murmu , CM Yogi Adityanath , Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya , and Minister Kiren Rijiju all congratulated the duo.
Chikitha Taniparthi and Sahil Rajesh Jadhav delivered one of the most gripping moments of the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games 2026 on 30 September, clinching the compound mixed team archery gold medal via a dramatic shoot-off after the final ended in a 157-157 tie against South Korea's Park Jungyoon and Choi Yonghee. The victory also secured India a quota place for the compound mixed team event at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics, where the discipline is set to make its historic Olympic debut.
A Shoot-Off for the Ages
With the gold medal on the line and scores locked at 157-157 after regulation, the Indian duo kept their composure under intense pressure to edge out the South Korean pair in the shoot-off. The result underlines India's growing dominance in compound archery on the continental stage. Notably, Chikitha had already claimed gold earlier in the day as part of the women's compound team event, making this her second gold medal at these Games alone.
India's Medal Tally Climbs to 56
The compound mixed team gold is India's eighth gold medal at the ongoing Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games 2026. India's overall tally now stands at 56 medals — 8 gold, 21 silver, and 27 bronze. This comes amid a broader surge in Indian archery, with compound specialists increasingly punching above their weight in international competition.
President Murmu and Leaders Offer Congratulations
President of India Droupadi Murmu was among the first to congratulate the pair, writing on X: 'Heartiest congratulations to Chikitha Taniparthi and Sahil Rajesh Jadhav on winning the Gold Medal in the Compound Mixed Archery Team event at the Asian Games 2026! With every arrow finding its mark, you have combined accuracy and consistency to deliver a superb performance. A magnificent display of skill and determination.'
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath hailed the win, saying: 'Gold under pressure! Another golden achievement for Indian Archery. Congratulations to Chikitha Taniparthi and Sahil Rajesh Jadhav on winning the Gold Medal in the Compound Mixed Team event at the Asian Games 2026. Holding their nerve in a thrilling shoot-off against South Korea, the duo secured the title and also earned an Olympic quota place for India for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics.'
Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya called it a 'monumental victory', stating: 'GOLD FOR BHARAT! Heartiest congratulations to Sahil Rajesh Jadhav and Chikitha Taniparthi on winning the Gold Medal in the Compound Mixed Team event at the Asian Games 2026. A monumental victory that also secures an LA28 Olympics quota for India.' Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Kiren Rijiju also extended congratulations to the pair.
The LA 2028 Olympic Significance
Beyond the medal itself, the result carries landmark importance for Indian archery. Compound mixed team archery is set to debut at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics, and this Asian Games gold has locked in a direct quota berth for India. This gives Indian compound archers a clear target and a full two-year preparation runway before the Games. The achievement is a signal that India's compound programme, long overshadowed by the recurve format, is now a genuine medal contender on the world stage.
Point of View
Yet it is now the format delivering the most reliable medal results at Asian level. The LA 2028 quota earned here gives Indian archery administrators a rare chance to channel serious resources into a discipline where India can genuinely contend for Olympic gold. The question is whether the system will seize that window or revert to recurve-first inertia once the Asian Games euphoria fades.
NationPress
30 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How did Chikitha Taniparthi and Sahil Jadhav win the Asian Games 2026 compound mixed team gold?
The Indian pair won via a shoot-off after the final against South Korea's Park Jungyoon and Choi Yonghee ended level at 157-157. They held their nerve under pressure to claim the gold medal in the compound mixed team archery event at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games 2026.
What is the significance of this gold for the LA 2028 Olympics?
The victory secured India a direct quota place for the compound mixed team archery event at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics. This is significant because compound mixed team archery is making its Olympic debut at LA 2028, meaning India is now confirmed to compete in the discipline's first-ever Olympic appearance.
How many gold medals does Chikitha Taniparthi have at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games 2026?
Chikitha Taniparthi has won two gold medals at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games 2026. She first won gold as part of the women's compound team earlier on 30 September, and then added a second gold in the compound mixed team event with Sahil Jadhav.
What is India's total medal tally at the Asian Games 2026?
As of 30 September, India's total medal tally at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games 2026 stands at 56 medals — 8 gold, 21 silver, and 27 bronze. The compound mixed team archery gold was India's eighth gold of the Games.
Which leaders congratulated Chikitha Taniparthi and Sahil Jadhav?
President Droupadi Murmu, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, and Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Kiren Rijiju all extended congratulations to the duo, with several posting tributes on X.
