'Happy to clinch the first-ever compound archery spot for the Olympic Games...': India’s compound archery coach

India’s archers receive a grand welcome home after returning from the Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. Pic/Archery India’s Instagram

[popcorn number="First" desc="India's rank in the medal tally in archery at the Asian Games, finishing ahead of S Korea by virtue of more gold medals" class="Default"]

[popcorn number="Nine" desc="No. of medals won by India's archers (five gold, two silver, two bronze)" class="Default"]

India's history-making compound and recurve archers returned home relieved and elated after a stunning Asian Games campaign that yielded five gold, two silver and two bronze medals, besides securing two Olympic quota places.

The recurve squad accounted for five medals, while the compound archers contributed four podium finishes.

David Cousins

India's compound archery coach David Cousins said the medal haul should silence the naysayers. "When the training is right, the preparation is right and the ecosystem is right, these are the results you get. We're exceptionally happy to clinch the first-ever compound archery spot for the Olympic Games. That's a huge thing for us," said Cousins.

The performances were delivered by a new-look group that had faced questions over its ability to perform on the big stage.

Unheralded archers Sahil Jadhav and Chikitha Taniparthi combined to win the compound mixed team gold, which also secured an Olympic quota place for India.

"You in the media and the global archery community really had a lot of questions about our younger archers, the new squad. Well, I think we proved exactly what they're made of," Cousins said.

Sahil also featured in the gold-winning men's compound team, while Chikitha combined with veteran Jyothi Surekha Vennam and Prithika Pradeep to clinch the women's compound team gold. The trio also equalled the world record score in their 238-234 win over China.

Kirti Sharma, who was part of the women's recurve team that defeated 10-time Olympic champions South Korea 5-3 in the final, described the victory as a historic moment for Indian archery. "We won India's first gold in this event. I feel very good that I was part of the team that created that history," Sharma said.

Another member of the recurve squad, 17-year-old Kumkum Mohod, emerged as one of the standout performers, winning individual gold and helping India claim the women's team gold, besides taking mixed team silver. Her individual gold also secured an Olympic quota place for India.

"It was the team's hard work and motivation, along with the support of the Archery Association of India and SAI, that helped us win medals," said a humble Mohod.

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