‘Korea’s invincibility had to be broken’: Kumkum Mohod

Kumkum Mohod after winning gold in Nagoya last week. Pic/Archery Assn of India

[popcorn number="5" desc="No. of gold medals won by Indian archers in the recently-concluded Asian Games, while South Korea bagged three top finishes" class="Default"]

For years, South Korea's dominance in recurve archery has seemed almost unassailable, but Kumkum Mohod believes the aura of invincibility has been shattered and her historic gold medal at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games could embolden India to challenge the Korean stronghold more often.

The 17-year-old from Amravati, Maharashtra, scripted history by becoming the first Indian to win an individual recurve gold at the Asian Games. She also struck gold in the women's team event and added a mixed team silver with Dhiraj Bommadevara, while her individual triumph secured a crucial Olympic quota place for India at the Los Angeles 2028 Games.

Mohod's defining moment came in the individual final against South Korea's Oh Yejin, a double gold medallist in the U-21 category at the 2023 World Archery Youth Championships. With the contest hanging in the balance, the Indian teenager held her nerve to deliver the decisive blow.

"One day, Korea's invincibility had to be broken. Everyone thought they were unbeatable, but this medal was very important because India had never won an individual recurve medal before. I feel our performances will improve further in future tournaments because everyone will be confident," Mohod said in an interaction facilitated by SAI. The final went into a shoot-off after the match ended 5-5, and Mohod seized the opportunity to seal the gold with a perfect 10, while Oh managed only an eight.

"My heartbeat was racing at that moment, but I calmed myself, relaxed and told myself that I only had to release the arrow properly and not think about anything else. I knew that was the only arrow that could get me gold, and that patience paid off," she said.

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