India’s men’s compound archery team clinched the gold medal at the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, on Wednesday, September 30, defeating China 238-237 in a closely fought final. The Indian trio of Sahil Jadhav, Kushal Dalal and Ganesh Mani Ratnam Thirumuru held their nerve to edge past China by a single point at the Okazaki Chuo Sogo Park Multipurpose Square.
The victory gave India its third gold medal in compound archery at the Games, following golds in the women’s team and mixed team events earlier in the day.
One-Point Victory
The final was decided by the narrowest of margins, with India finishing on 238 points against China’s 237. The Indian trio faced China’s Jiahao Liao, Jinyi Liu and Jingyu Shi, with the contest remaining tightly poised through the match. India’s victory came after the team had already demonstrated its consistency during the earlier rounds, including a 236-229 semi-final win over South Korea.
The result was particularly significant for the three archers, who have competed together internationally before. World Archery records show Dalal, Jadhav and Thirumuru forming India’s compound men’s team at international competitions earlier in 2026. Their Asian Games campaign began with a third-place finish in the qualification round, where India scored 2,117 points, behind China and South Korea.
There were no detailed post-match statements from the three archers or Indian officials available in the reports reviewed at the time of publication. However, the official result and contemporary reporting confirm that the team secured the gold by one point, adding another major international title to India’s growing compound archery record.
Golden Archery Sweep
The men’s victory completed a remarkable day for India in compound archery. Earlier, the women’s team of Jyothi Surekha Vennam, Chikitha Taniparthi and Prithika Pradeep defeated China in the women’s team final. Sahil Jadhav and Chikitha Taniparthi then won the mixed team gold after overcoming South Korea in a shoot-off. The mixed-team victory also secured India a quota place for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, where compound mixed team archery is set to make its Olympic debut.
The men’s triumph therefore gave India a clean sweep of the three compound team gold medals on offer at the Asian Games. This mirrors India’s achievement at the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou, where the country also won all three compound team gold medals. The latest results underline the depth of India’s compound archery programme, with different combinations of athletes contributing to the country’s success.
The road to the men’s final had not been entirely straightforward. India defeated Bhutan 235-232 in the quarter-finals before overcoming South Korea 236-229 in the semi-final. The narrow margins in the knockout rounds meant that every arrow mattered, setting the stage for another tense contest against China.
The three archers have also had individual moments during the Games. Sahil Jadhav and Ganesh Mani Ratnam Thirumuru faced each other in the men’s individual event, with Thirumuru winning their round-of-16 encounter 149-148. Jadhav had earlier recorded a 149-137 victory over Mongolia’s Jamiyangombo Purevdorj.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
India’s latest archery success is more than a medal tally update—it reflects what can happen when athletes have the opportunity to compete, train and grow together at the highest level. Team events also remind us that sporting success is rarely about one individual alone; it is built through trust, preparation, coaching and collective responsibility.
As India celebrates another closely fought victory over China, the spirit of sport lies not merely in defeating an opponent but in respecting the competition and appreciating the dedication on both sides. What do you think India’s compound archery success says about the future of the sport in the country?
