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India claims first-ever recurve double as Bhakat stuns Olympic medallist

14 novembre 2025

Dhaka, Bangladesh

Vrai nom:

Ankita Bhakat pulled off the biggest win of her career, stunning Paris 2024 Olympic silver medallist Nam Suhyeon in a gripping five-set final to secure the recurve women’s gold medal at the 2025 Asian Archery Championships in Dhaka on Friday.

In the tournament’s biggest upset, Bhakat overpowered her Korean opponent 7-3 to claim her first individual continental title – and India’s first-ever recurve women’s individual gold at the Asian Championships.

Level at 3-3 after three sets, the world number 36 stayed composed, delivering four 10s in her final six arrows and a crucial nine with her last shot to close out the match. The 27-year-old had earlier edged senior teammate and former world number one Deepika Kumari in a tight semifinal.

“I’m so happy; this is my biggest win in individual events,” said Bhakat. “Playing in the Archery Premier League has boosted my confidence. I enjoyed shooting today.”

She who was joined on the podium by compatriot Sangeeta. The emerging archer, a silver medallist at the Tashkent Asian Cup, upset Kumari in a dramatic shoot-off to secure bronze.

India’s success continued in the recurve men’s event as Dhiraj Bommadevara matched Bhakat’s heroics. The Central Florida 2025 Hyundai Archery World Cup bronze medallist denied Korea the continental title for the first time since Bangkok 2015.

Dhaka 2025 also marked the first time India won both recurve individual gold medals at the Asian Championships.

En route to the individual gold, Bommadevara produced a resilient show, fighting back from a set down to overcome Korea’s Jang Chaehwan 6-2 in the semifinals. He then continued the momentum to beat his compatriot Rahul Rahul in the gold medal match.

Bommadevara fought back from a set down in his semifinal against Korea’s Jang Chaehwan, winning 6-2, before defeating compatriot Rahul Rahul for gold. Rahul had earlier impressed with a commanding straight-set victory over Korea’s Seo Mingi, the Chengdu 2021 Summer World University Games Champion, in the semifinals.

Before his individual medal, Rahul joined Atanu Das and Yashdeep Sanjay Bhoge to defeat Korea’s Seo, Jiho Jang and Kim Yeachan in a dramatic shoot-off to claim the men’s team gold. The victory ended Korea’s 12-year reign as champions in the event.

Korea will still return home with one gold after Nam, Jang Minhee and Kim Surin overpowered Chinese Taipei in straight sets in the recurve women’s team final.

In the recurve mixed team competition, Chinese Taipei’s Li Tsai-Chi and Tai Yu-Hsuan defeated Uzbekistan’s spirited duo Ziyodakhon Abdusattorova and Amirkhon Sadikov to secure their nation’s first continental title.

You can watch the coverage from Dhaka with a subscription to archery+.