Neeraj Chauhan wins Asian Games recurve bronze in all-India clash
Synopsis
In a rare all-India bronze medal contest at the Asian Games in Okazaki, Neeraj Chauhan overturned a 2-4 deficit to beat compatriot Dhiraj Bommadevara 6-4 in five sets — sealing the podium with a 9 and a 10 on his final two arrows. The result caps India's most productive recurve archery campaign in Asian Games history, headlined by Kumkum Mohod's historic women's individual gold.
Key Takeaways
Neeraj Chauhan won the men's individual recurve bronze at the Asian Games in Okazaki on 3 October .
He defeated compatriot Dhiraj Bommadevara 6-4 in a five-set all-Indian bronze playoff.
Neeraj was 2-4 down before winning the final two sets, clinching the match with a 9 and a 10 on his last arrows.
Both archers had previously won team recurve silver together alongside Yashdeep Bhoge .
Kumkum Mohod became the first Indian woman to win an individual recurve gold at the Asiad, also claiming a women's team gold with Kirti Sharma and Ankita Bhakat .
Indian archer Neeraj Chauhan clinched the men's individual recurve bronze medal at the Asian Games on Saturday, 3 October, defeating compatriot Dhiraj Bommadevara in a gripping all-Indian playoff at the Okazaki Chuo Sogo Park Multipurpose Square in Okazaki, Japan. The 6-4 victory in five sets ensured India secured a podium finish in the event, even as both archers had fallen short in their respective semifinals.
A Dramatic Comeback in the Bronze Match
The bronze medal contest was anything but straightforward. Neeraj took the opening set 29-26, but Dhiraj fought back to win the second 28-27 and the third 29-28, putting himself 4-2 ahead and needing just one more set to clinch the medal.
With his back against the wall, Neeraj produced a near-perfect fourth set — landing three 10s — to level the contest at 4-4 and force a deciding fifth set.
In the final set, Dhiraj started with an 8 before recovering with two 10s to post 28. Neeraj needed only 19 to win; he delivered a 9 and a 10 on his last two arrows to seal the bronze in emphatic fashion.
Semifinal Exits That Set Up the All-India Finale
Neeraj had earlier lost his semifinal to Japan's Junya Nakanishi by a heavy 1-7 margin, while Dhiraj went down to South Korea's Lee Woo-Seok in the last four. Their paths crossing in the bronze playoff gave India the rare distinction of guaranteeing a medal regardless of the result.
India's Rich Haul in Archery at These Games
Both archers had already collected silverware before their individual contest. Dhiraj won a team silver alongside Neeraj and Yashdeep Bhoge, the trio finishing second to South Korea in the team final. Dhiraj also secured a mixed event silver with Kumkum Mohod, the pair losing to China in the gold medal match.
The Indian women's contingent has been the standout story of these Games. Kumkum Mohod made history by becoming the first Indian woman to win an individual recurve gold at the Asiad, defeating South Korea's Oh Yejin in a stunning upset. She then joined Kirti Sharma and Ankita Bhakat to claim the women's team recurve gold, downing 10-time champions South Korea in the final.
What the Result Means for Indian Archery
India's performance in recurve archery at these Asian Games has been its most comprehensive in years — combining individual, team, and mixed medals across both genders. The women's double gold and the men's consistency on the podium signal a structural improvement in depth and competitive temperament. The focus now shifts to how this momentum translates into the qualification cycle leading to the next major global event.
Point of View
But the bigger story is what India's archery programme has quietly built. Women's recurve, long a weak link, has delivered two golds in one edition — a result that will sharpen selection debates and funding conversations ahead of the next Olympic cycle. The men's team, meanwhile, consistently reaches podiums without quite breaking through to gold, a ceiling that coaching staff will need to address before the sport's biggest stage.
NationPress
3 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won the men's individual recurve bronze at the Asian Games 2026?
Indian archer Neeraj Chauhan won the men's individual recurve bronze at the Asian Games in Okazaki on 3 October, defeating compatriot Dhiraj Bommadevara 6-4 in a five-set match.
What was the scoreline in the Neeraj vs Dhiraj bronze medal match?
Neeraj Chauhan defeated Dhiraj Bommadevara 6-4 across five sets. Neeraj trailed 2-4 before winning the fourth set with three 10s and clinching the fifth with a 9 and a 10 on his final two arrows.
Why did both Indian archers end up in the bronze medal match?
Both Neeraj Chauhan and Dhiraj Bommadevara lost their respective semifinals — Neeraj went down 1-7 to Japan's Junya Nakanishi, while Dhiraj lost to South Korea's Lee Woo-Seok — and were therefore placed in the bronze playoff against each other.
What other medals did Dhiraj Bommadevara win at these Asian Games?
Dhiraj Bommadevara won a team recurve silver alongside Neeraj Chauhan and Yashdeep Bhoge, and a mixed event silver with Kumkum Mohod after they lost to China in the gold medal match.
Who is Kumkum Mohod and why is her performance historic?
Kumkum Mohod is an Indian recurve archer who became the first Indian woman to win an individual recurve gold at the Asian Games, defeating South Korea's Oh Yejin. She also won the women's team gold with Kirti Sharma and Ankita Bhakat, defeating 10-time champions South Korea.
