Asian Games: Dhiraj-Kumkum win recurve mixed team silver, China takes LA 2028 quota
Synopsis
Dhiraj Bommadevara and Kumkum Mohod made history as the first Indian pair to reach the Asian Games recurve mixed team final — only to finish second to China, handing Beijing the LA 2028 Olympic quota. The silver adds to India's growing archery tally, but the quota miss leaves a qualification gap heading into the Olympic cycle.
Key Takeaways
Dhiraj Bommadevara and Kumkum Mohod won silver in the recurve mixed team final at the Asian Games on 2 October .
China claimed gold and the LA 2028 Olympic quota ; India missed out by finishing second.
The pair became the first Indian duo to reach the Asian Games recurve mixed team final, having come back from 3-1 down to beat Japan 5-3 in the semi-final.
India's women's recurve team won gold earlier the same day, beating 10-time champions South Korea in their first-ever final.
India's total archery medal count at these Games stands at six — four gold, one silver, one bronze — with men's recurve events still to be contested.
Dhiraj Bommadevara and Kumkum Mohod claimed a silver medal in the recurve mixed team event at the Asian Games on 2 October, falling to China in the final at Okazaki Chuo Sogo Park Multipurpose Square. While the result marks a historic milestone for Indian archery, it came at a cost — China's gold sealed them the coveted LA 2028 Olympic quota place, which India narrowly missed by finishing runners-up.
How the Final Unfolded
China established early dominance, taking the first set 2-0 after scoring 10 and 8 against India's 9 and 8, with Dhiraj's 7 proving costly despite Kumkum's 10. In the second set, China extended their lead to 4-0, responding to India's 8s and 9s with a pair of 10s to keep the pressure relentless.
India showed resolve in the third set, with Dhiraj and Kumkum fighting back to win it and reduce the deficit to 4-2. In the fourth and decisive set, both teams were locked at 37-37, but that tie was enough for China to clinch the gold, ending the contest with India unable to force a further set.
A Historic Semi-Final Before the Final
Before reaching the gold-medal match, Dhiraj and Kumkum made history by becoming the first Indian pair to reach the Asian Games recurve mixed team final. They mounted a memorable comeback against Japan in the semi-final, overturning a 3-1 deficit to win 5-3. Japan had taken the opening set 38-37, and the second ended tied at 36-36, before India turned the tide by winning the third set 39-35 and the fourth 37-35.
India's Archery Campaign at These Asian Games
The mixed team silver is India's second medal in recurve archery at these Games. Earlier on the same day, the Indian women's recurve team clinched a landmark gold — their first-ever in the event — defeating 10-time champions South Korea in their maiden Asian Games final appearance. Across all disciplines, India's archery tally has risen to six medals, comprising four gold, one silver, and one bronze.
Notably, India's best-ever archery performance came at Hangzhou 2023, where the team collected a record nine medals — five gold, two silver, and two bronze. The compound archers swept all five gold medals available, while the recurve teams contributed a silver and a bronze. With the men's recurve team event and individual recurve events for both men and women still to come, India are well-placed to match or surpass that nine-medal benchmark.
The Olympic Quota Miss
The silver medal, while celebrated, carries a tangible setback. In recurve mixed team events at multi-sport continental championships, only the gold medallist secures an Olympic quota berth. China's victory therefore hands them an automatic passage to Los Angeles 2028, while India will need to qualify through alternate pathways. This adds urgency to India's performance in the remaining individual recurve events at these Games.
Point of View
Meaning India's archery programme must now navigate the qualification circuit under greater pressure. The women's recurve gold earlier the same day shows India's depth is real, but converting continental finals into Olympic passages remains the unfinished business of this campaign. With individual recurve events still ahead, how India's archers perform under that added qualifier pressure will define the true legacy of Okazaki.
NationPress
2 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What medal did Dhiraj Bommadevara and Kumkum Mohod win at the Asian Games?
Dhiraj Bommadevara and Kumkum Mohod won a silver medal in the recurve mixed team event at the Asian Games on 2 October, after losing to China in the final at Okazaki Chuo Sogo Park Multipurpose Square.
Did India secure an LA 2028 Olympic quota through the mixed recurve event?
No. Only the gold medallists — China — received the LA 2028 Olympic quota from this event. India, finishing second, missed out and will need to qualify through other pathways.
How did Dhiraj and Kumkum reach the Asian Games mixed recurve final?
They became the first Indian pair to reach the Asian Games recurve mixed team final by coming back from 3-1 down to defeat Japan 5-3 in the semi-final, winning the third set 39-35 and the fourth 37-35.
How many archery medals has India won at these Asian Games?
India had won six archery medals at the time of this result — four gold, one silver, and one bronze — with the men's recurve team event and individual recurve events still to be played.
How does this compare to India's best-ever Asian Games archery performance?
India's record haul was nine medals at Hangzhou 2023, comprising five gold, two silver, and two bronze. With multiple events still remaining at Okazaki, India is well-placed to match or exceed that tally.
