Asian Games 2026: India beat Thailand 156-155 to reach compound mixed team final
Synopsis
A one-point finish, a double-gold bid, and India's seventh gold of the Games — Chikitha Taniparthi and Sahil Rajesh Jadhav survived a 156-155 thriller against Thailand to reach the Asian Games 2026 compound mixed team final, where Chikitha now has a chance to become the tournament's standout archer with back-to-back gold medals.
Key Takeaways
Sahil Rajesh Jadhav and Chikitha Taniparthi beat Thailand 156-155 in the compound mixed team semifinal at the Asian Games 2026 .
India will face the winner of the South Korea vs China semifinal in the gold medal match.
Chikitha is chasing her second gold of the Games, having already won the women's compound team event.
India's overall tally stands at 53 medals — 7 gold, 21 silver, 25 bronze .
India won silver in 2018 and bronze in 2014 in the compound mixed team event; a gold here would be a first.
The Indian men's compound team also face South Korea in their semifinal on Wednesday.
India's compound mixed team of Sahil Rajesh Jadhav and Chikitha Taniparthi stormed into the final of the Asian Games 2026 compound mixed team event with a nerve-wracking 156-155 victory over Thailand's Peerawat Rattanapongkiat and Kanoknapus Kaewchomphu at Okazaki Chuo Sogo Park Multipurpose Square in Okazaki on Wednesday, 30 September. The Indian duo will now face the winner of the second semifinal between South Korea and China.
End-by-End Drama
India set the tone early, opening with three 10s and a nine in End 1 while Thailand struggled with a 9 and 8, leaving India ahead 39-37. The advantage extended through End 2 to 77-75 as both Chikitha and Sahil traded solid 10s and 9s, keeping Thailand at bay.
End 3 saw Thailand come out with a spirited response, posting perfect 10s, but India refused to buckle, maintaining a 117-115 lead going into the decisive final end. Thailand again opened the last end with two perfect 10s, briefly reducing India's cushion to just one after Chikitha shot a 9. But Sahil found a 10 to restore a two-point buffer at 136-135.
With both Thai archers responding with perfect scores, the pressure mounted — yet Chikitha delivered a clutch 10 before Sahil sealed the match with another 10, sending India through 156-155 in one of the closest semifinals of the Games.
Chikitha's Second Gold Medal Bid
For Chikitha Taniparthi, this is already her second gold medal appearance at the Aichi-Nagoya Games. She earlier combined with Prithika Pradeep and Jyothi Surekha Vennam to claim gold in the women's compound team event, defeating China 238-234. A win in the mixed team final would make her a double gold medallist at this edition.
India's Medal Tally and Archery Record
The result pushes India's overall medal tally to 53 at the ongoing Games — comprising 7 gold, 21 silver, and 25 bronze. This is India's seventh gold of the current edition. In the compound mixed team event specifically, India won silver in 2018 and bronze in 2014, making a potential gold here a historic first in the discipline.
India's best-ever archery haul at an Asian Games was at Hangzhou 2023, where the team won a record nine medals — five gold, two silver, and two bronze. The compound archers swept all five gold medals on offer that year, while the recurve teams added a silver and a bronze. The current campaign is tracking similarly well.
Men's Compound Team Also in Action
The momentum could build further on Wednesday, with the Indian men's compound team also stepping out for their semifinal against South Korea later in the day. A strong showing could set up an all-India medal haul in the compound discipline, mirroring the Hangzhou sweep.
All eyes now turn to the mixed team final, where India will look to convert their semifinal grit into gold-medal glory.
Point of View
And Chikitha Taniparthi is fast becoming the face of this edition — her composure in the closing ends against Thailand was the difference between a semifinal exit and a gold medal shot. What this campaign is quietly building toward is a direct comparison with Hangzhou 2023's record nine-medal sweep; India is on track to match or exceed that benchmark. The men's compound team's semifinal against South Korea later Wednesday is the next critical test — a win there, combined with a mixed team gold, would confirm that Indian compound archery has moved from a pleasant surprise to a structural strength. The recurve pipeline still lags; how AICF addresses that gap before the next cycle will define whether this is a compound-only dynasty or a full-spectrum archery power.
NationPress
30 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Did India qualify for the compound mixed team final at Asian Games 2026?
Yes, India qualified by defeating Thailand 156-155 in the semifinal at Okazaki Chuo Sogo Park Multipurpose Square on 30 September 2026. The Indian pair of Sahil Rajesh Jadhav and Chikitha Taniparthi will face the winner of the South Korea vs China semifinal in the gold medal match.
Who are Sahil Rajesh Jadhav and Chikitha Taniparthi?
Sahil Rajesh Jadhav and Chikitha Taniparthi are India's compound mixed team archers competing at the Asian Games 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. Chikitha has already won a gold medal in the women's compound team event at these Games, partnering Prithika Pradeep and Jyothi Surekha Vennam.
What is India's medal tally at Asian Games 2026?
As of 30 September 2026, India's medal tally stands at 53 — comprising 7 gold, 21 silver, and 25 bronze medals. The compound mixed team final win could add an eighth gold to that count.
Has India ever won gold in the compound mixed team event at the Asian Games?
No — India won silver in 2018 and bronze in 2014 in the compound mixed team event. A gold medal in the final at Asian Games 2026 would be a historic first for India in this discipline.
How did India's 2026 Asian Games archery campaign compare to Hangzhou 2023?
At Hangzhou 2023, India had its best-ever Asian Games archery campaign, winning a record nine medals — five gold, two silver, and two bronze — with compound archers sweeping all five gold medals. The 2026 campaign is tracking strongly, with at least one gold already secured and more medal finals to come.
