India's women's recurve archery team produced a sensational comeback to clinch the gold medal at the Archery World Cup Stage 2 in Shanghai on Sunday. The trio of Deepika Kumari, Ankita Bhakat, and 17-year-old Kumkum Mohod defeated hosts China 5-4 in a tense shoot-off after the match ended level at 4-4 across four sets.
Victory over South Korea
The win was particularly special as India had earlier defeated mighty South Korea, the 10-time Olympic champions, in the semifinals. This marked India's first women's recurve team World Cup gold since 2021 and their first medal in the category in three years.
Deepika's leadership
Deepika Kumari, India's most experienced archer, played a pivotal role throughout the competition. Traveling without a full-time national coach, the senior archer constantly guided and motivated her younger teammates during crucial moments. India started strongly, winning the opening set 54-53, with Deepika hitting successive 10s to boost team confidence. However, China fought back quickly. In the second set, India faltered when Kumkum managed only an 8 and Deepika surprisingly shot a 7 in the final arrow, leveling the contest 2-2.
China takes the lead
The hosts then edged ahead 4-2 after a review upgraded China's final arrow from 8 to 9 in the third set. India looked close to defeat in the fourth set despite Deepika rediscovering form with two perfect 10s. China needed just one final 9 to win the title in front of their home crowd. But young Chinese archer Yu Qi shot an 8 under pressure, giving India a lifeline and forcing a shoot-off.
Nerve-wracking shoot-off
India held their nerve brilliantly in the decider. Ankita opened with a 9, Kumkum followed with a superb 10, and Deepika calmly shot a 9 when only an 8 was needed to secure the gold medal. The victory showcased India's depth and resilience in archery, setting a positive tone for future competitions.
