Asian Games 2026: Neeraj Chauhan wins recurve bronze, President Murmu congratulates
Synopsis
In an all-Indian bronze-medal playoff in Okazaki, Neeraj Chauhan edged out Dhiraj Bommadevara to claim recurve bronze at the Asian Games 2026 — capping a nine-medal archery campaign that saw India outpace South Korea for the second consecutive Asiad. Seventeen-year-old Kumkum Mohod, who became India's first woman recurve gold medallist, was the star of an exceptional haul.
Key Takeaways
Neeraj Chauhan won bronze in the individual recurve men's event at the Asian Games 2026 in Okazaki , defeating compatriot Dhiraj Bommadevara .
President Droupadi Murmu congratulated Neeraj on X , calling it a 'special moment for Indian recurve archery.' India finished with 9 medals (5 gold, 2 silver, 2 bronze) in archery, surpassing South Korea for the second straight Asian Games .
Kumkum Mohod , 17, became India's first woman to win an individual recurve gold at the Asiad, also winning a team gold and a mixed silver.
India claimed its first-ever recurve team gold , beating ten-time champions Korea in the final.
Compound archers added multiple golds, with Sahil Jadhav , Chikitha Taniparthi , and their respective teams defeating China and South Korea in the finals.
Archer Neeraj Chauhan clinched the bronze medal in the individual recurve men's event at the Asian Games 2026 in Okazaki on Saturday, 3 October, defeating compatriot Dhiraj Bommadevara in an all-Indian third-place playoff. President Droupadi Murmu congratulated Neeraj on the achievement, calling it a proud moment for Indian recurve archery.
President Murmu's Message
Taking to X, President Murmu wrote: 'Congratulations to Neeraj Chauhan on securing the Bronze Medal in the Recurve Men's Individual event in Archery at the Asian Games 2026. With both archers in the Bronze Medal match being Indians, it was a special moment for Indian recurve archery.' She added that the medal 'adds to India's strong presence on the individual recurve podium at the Games and is a proud achievement for Indian archery,' extending her best wishes to Neeraj for future success.
India's Historic Archery Campaign
Neeraj's bronze capped an outstanding overall archery campaign for India at the 2026 Asiad. The country finished with nine medals — five gold, two silver, and two bronze — surpassing traditional powerhouse South Korea for the second consecutive Asian Games. India had achieved the identical nine-medal tally at the 2023 Hangzhou Games, where Korea took 11 medals including four gold. This time, India pipped Korea again, underlining a sustained shift in the continental archery hierarchy.
Kumkum Mohod Leads the Charge
The standout performer of the campaign was 17-year-old Kumkum Mohod, who made history with three medals. She became India's first woman to win an individual recurve gold at the Asian Games, edging South Korea's Oh Yejin in a thrilling shoot-off, winning 6-5. Kumkum also partnered Kirti Sharma and Ankita Bhakat to claim India's first-ever recurve team gold, stunning ten-time champions Korea in the final, and added a silver in the mixed team event alongside Dhiraj Bommadevara.
Compound Events Deliver More Gold
India's compound archers matched the recurve side's brilliance. The men's compound team of Sahil Jadhav, Ganesh Mani Ratnam Thirumuru, and Kushal Dalal won gold by defeating China in the final. The women's compound trio of Chikitha Taniparthi, Jyothi Surekha, and Prithika Pradeep also struck gold against China. Additionally, Sahil and Chikitha combined to win the mixed compound team gold, beating South Korea in the final.
What It Means for Indian Archery
Back-to-back nine-medal hauls at the Asian Games, with India outscoring Korea in gold count on both occasions, marks a significant coming-of-age moment for Indian archery. The emergence of a teenager like Kumkum — already holding multiple continental gold medals — points to a deep pipeline that could challenge Korea's long-standing global dominance in the years ahead.
Point of View
Where Korea's dominance has been even more entrenched.
NationPress
3 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won the recurve men's individual bronze at Asian Games 2026?
Neeraj Chauhan won the bronze medal in the recurve men's individual event at the Asian Games 2026 in Okazaki, defeating fellow Indian Dhiraj Bommadevara in the third-place playoff. Dhiraj finished fourth.
How many medals did India win in archery at Asian Games 2026?
India won nine medals in archery at the Asian Games 2026 — five gold, two silver, and two bronze. This matched India's medal count from the 2023 Hangzhou Games and again surpassed South Korea's total.
Who is Kumkum Mohod and why is she significant?
Kumkum Mohod is a 17-year-old Indian archer who became the first Indian woman to win an individual recurve gold at the Asian Games, defeating South Korea's Oh Yejin in a shoot-off (6-5). She also won a recurve team gold and a mixed team silver at the same Games.
What did President Droupadi Murmu say about Neeraj Chauhan?
President Murmu congratulated Neeraj Chauhan on X, saying his medal 'adds to India's strong presence on the individual recurve podium' and calling the all-Indian bronze-medal match 'a special moment for Indian recurve archery.'
Has India beaten South Korea in archery at consecutive Asian Games?
Yes. India outscored South Korea in archery at both the 2023 Hangzhou Games and the 2026 Asian Games, each time finishing with nine medals. In 2023, Korea won 11 medals; India's superior gold count and repeat performance in 2026 underscores a genuine shift in continental archery standings.
