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Indian Archers Stun China After Upsetting South Korea
Deepika Kumari, Ankita Bhakat and Kumkum Mohod defeat China in dramatic shoot-off after stunning South Korea in semifinals
India’s women’s recurve trio of Deepika Kumari, Ankita Bhakat and teenage sensation Kumkum Mohod produced a nerve-wracking performance to defeat hosts China and win the gold medal at the Archery World Cup Stage 2 on Sunday.
In a thrilling final that swung repeatedly between the two sides, the Indian team edged past the Chinese archers 5-4 after winning the shoot-off 28-26. The regulation sets had ended level at 4-4, forcing the contest into a tense decider.
The Indian archers displayed remarkable composure under pressure, especially during the final shoot-off, to secure a memorable victory in front of the home crowd supporting China.
The triumph became even more significant as the Indian team had earlier pulled off a major upset by defeating South Korea — the record 10-time Olympic champions — in the semifinals.
This marks India’s first women’s recurve team gold medal at a World Cup event since 2021, signalling a strong resurgence for the squad on the international stage.
Deepika Kumari, one of India’s most experienced archers, played a key role alongside Ankita Bhakat and rising youngster Kumkum Mohod, whose calm performance in high-pressure moments drew praise.
The victory is expected to boost confidence within the Indian archery contingent ahead of upcoming major international competitions.