India’s Kumkum Mohod has scripted a major chapter in Asian Games archery after winning the women’s individual recurve gold at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games. The 17-year-old defeated South Korea’s Oh Ye-jin in a dramatic shoot-off to claim the title.
A Historic Gold
The final ended 5-5, forcing a one-arrow shoot-off. Mohod produced a perfect 10, while Oh scored 8, giving the Indian teenager the gold medal. Her victory made her the first Indian woman to win an individual recurve title at the Asian Games.
Defeating Korea’s Top Archers
Mohod’s route to the title included victories over reigning world champion Kang Chae-young in the quarterfinal and China’s Zhu Jingyi in the semifinal before she overcame Oh in the final.
Visualisation Behind the Performance
Mohod has credited visualisation and breathing exercises as important parts of her preparation. Before the deciding arrow, she visualised hitting a 10—and then delivered exactly that under pressure.
A Simple Life Away From Archery
Despite her breakthrough, Mohod remains grounded. She enjoys drawing, painting and watching television, with Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah among her favourite shows. She also loves butterscotch ice cream, although she kept away from sweets during her training period.
Olympic Quota Secured
The historic gold also secured an LA 2028 Olympic quota place for India. Mohod has now won three medals at the Games two golds and one silver making her campaign one of the standout performances for the Indian contingent.