Asian Games 2026: India lose 1-5 to South Korea, take recurve mixed team silver
Synopsis
India's men's recurve archery team claimed silver at the Asian Games for the second Games running, falling 1-5 to a dominant South Korea in the final at Okazaki. A near-miss in the opening set and a collapse in the second proved decisive — the same story that played out at Hangzhou 2023, raising pointed questions about India's ability to close the gap against the world's most formidable archery nation.
Key Takeaways
India lost 1-5 to South Korea in the men's recurve archery team final at the Asian Games on 2 October .
The Indian trio of Neeraj Chauhan , Yashdeep Bhoge , and Dhiraj Bommadevara represented India in the final.
This is India's second consecutive Asian Games silver in the men's recurve team event, having also lost to South Korea at Hangzhou 2023 .
Dhiraj Bommadevara was part of both silver-medal teams — at Hangzhou 2023 and now at Okazaki.
South Korea, led by Kim Je Deok , Kim Woojin , and Lee Wooseok , claimed their ninth men's recurve team gold at the Asian Games.
India dominated the first set only to tie it; a collapse in the second set — scoring no arrows at 10 — ultimately decided the match.
India's men's recurve archery team settled for a silver medal at the Asian Games on Friday, 2 October, falling to nine-time champions South Korea by a scoreline of 1-5 in the final at the Okazaki Chuo Sogo Park Multipurpose Square in Okazaki, Japan. A historic gold proved elusive once again as the Korean powerhouse asserted its dominance in the title clash.
How the Final Unfolded
The Indian trio of Neeraj Chauhan, Yashdeep Bhoge, and Dhiraj Bommadevara faced a South Korean side comprising Kim Je Deok, Kim Woojin, and Lee Wooseok — a lineup brimming with Olympic and World Championship pedigree. Both teams opened evenly, each shooting 56 points across six arrows and nailing three 10s apiece to share the first set at 1-1. India came close to edging that opener, needing 28 from their final three arrows against Korea's tally of 56, but could manage only a 10, 8, and 9 — one point short of victory.
The second set proved decisive in shaping the contest's outcome. Korea produced a clinical display, firing four arrows at 10, while the Indians registered none. Yashdeep and Neeraj each scored an eight, and Dhiraj struggled, recording two eights as Korea swept the set 57-50 to lead 3-1.
India's Fightback Falls Short
Needing a near-perfect third set to stay alive, India started promisingly — Neeraj hit a 10 while Yashdeep and Dhiraj chipped in with nines to take 28 points from the opening three arrows. Korea matched that with 28 of their own, keeping the margin razor-thin. However, Neeraj's seven on India's fourth arrow proved costly. Despite a nine and a ten from Yashdeep and Dhiraj respectively, Korea needed just 27 from their last three arrows and delivered 28, sealing the set 56-54 and the match 5-1. India managed to keep parity in only one set across the entire final.
A Familiar Runner-Up Story
This is India's second consecutive Asian Games silver in the men's recurve team event. The same South Korean squad denied India gold at Hangzhou 2023, and the pattern has repeated itself at these Games. Olympian Dhiraj Bommadevara was part of that silver-medal squad at Hangzhou as well, making his back-to-back podium appearance a point of individual resilience even amid collective disappointment.
Notably, South Korea have now won the men's recurve team gold at the Asian Games for a remarkable ninth time, underlining the near-unassailable advantage they hold in this discipline globally.
What This Means for Indian Archery
India's silver is nonetheless a creditable result — reaching the final of the premier continental multi-sport event against the world's foremost archery nation is no small achievement. The performance raises questions about the marginal gap that continues to separate Indian recurve archers from the top step, particularly in high-pressure final sets. With the next Olympic cycle firmly in focus, coaches and selectors will analyse where the Indians lost their edge — specifically in the second set, where the absence of any 10-point arrows proved the difference.
The result adds to India's medal tally at these Asian Games and keeps recurve archery firmly on the national radar heading into the Olympic qualification period.
Point of View
Two silvers, one opponent — the pattern is hard to dismiss as coincidence. India's recurve team has the consistency to reach the final but not yet the composure to win it, and the second set at Okazaki encapsulated that gap: zero 10-point arrows against a Korean side that fired four. The coaching staff must interrogate whether the issue is technical — arrow grouping under pressure — or psychological, given how a near-win in the first set visibly tightened India's execution thereafter. With Olympic qualification looming, the margin for repeat near-misses is narrowing fast.
NationPress
2 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the result of India's men's recurve archery team final at the Asian Games 2026?
India lost 1-5 to South Korea in the men's recurve archery team final at the Asian Games on 2 October, held at the Okazaki Chuo Sogo Park Multipurpose Square in Okazaki, Japan. India settled for the silver medal after being outshot in two of the three contested sets.
Who represented India in the men's recurve archery team final?
India was represented by Neeraj Chauhan, Yashdeep Bhoge, and Dhiraj Bommadevara. Olympian Dhiraj Bommadevara also featured in India's silver-medal squad at the Hangzhou 2023 Asian Games.
How many times has South Korea won the men's recurve team gold at the Asian Games?
South Korea have won the men's recurve team gold at the Asian Games nine times, making them the most dominant force in the discipline at the continental level. Their team at Okazaki featured Kim Je Deok, Kim Woojin, and Lee Wooseok.
Why did India lose the final despite a strong start?
India matched South Korea in the first set, both teams shooting 56 points to share it 1-1, but the second set was where India lost the match. The Indian archers registered no arrows at 10 while Korea hit four, handing Korea the set 57-50. India could not recover sufficiently in the third and final contested set, losing 54-56.
Is this India's first Asian Games silver in men's recurve archery?
No, it is India's second consecutive Asian Games silver in the men's recurve team event. The same outcome occurred at the Hangzhou 2023 Asian Games, where India also finished runners-up to South Korea.
