Kumkum Mohod clinched gold in a razor‑thin 6‑5 shoot‑off, beating South Korea's Oh Yejin 10‑8 to lift India’s first individual recurve title at the Asian Games.
Her campaign began with a 5‑2 team win over Korea, then a silver in the mixed recurve with Dhiraj Bommadevara. In the knock‑out stages she dominated, beating world champion Kang Chaeyoung 6‑4 in the quarters and China’s Jingyi Zhu 6‑2 in the semis, proving age is no barrier.
From a Rs 3,000 wooden bow gifted by her grandmother to a second‑hand pro‑level arrow, Kumkum’s rise is a tale of grit. Coach Prafull Dange praised her discipline, noting how pandemic drills strengthened her back and drawing technique, turning a modest schoolgirl into a world‑class archer.
Beyond the trophy, the gold secures a quota spot for India at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, marking a historic milestone for the nation’s archery program. Next up, Kumkum will aim to defend her title at the upcoming World Archery Championships, while India prepares for the Olympic qualification process.