India’s women’s recurve archery team scripted a memorable comeback in Shanghai on Sunday, ending a five year wait for a World Cup gold medal with a dramatic victory over hosts China in the final of the Archery World Cup Stage 2. In a contest filled with pressure, precision and resilience, the Indian trio of Deepika Kumari, Ankita Bhakat and rising youngster Kumkum Mohod defeated China 5-4 in a thrilling shoot-off to clinch the country’s first recurve medal of the 2026 season.
The final at the Yuanshen Sports Centre saw India produce one of its finest performances in recent years against a strong Chinese side backed by home support. After taking the opening set 54-53, the Indian team lost momentum as China responded strongly to win the next two sets 55-52 and 57-56, pushing India to the brink of defeat. However, the experienced Deepika Kumari led the comeback with calmness under pressure. India bounced back in the fourth set and levelled the match after Deepika struck a precise X-shot with her final arrow, helping the team edge the set 54-53 and force a shoot-off.
In the decisive shoot-off, all three Indian archers delivered yellow ring scores, sealing a 28-26 win and silencing the home crowd. The victory marked India’s seventh women’s recurve team title in Archery World Cup history, with Deepika Kumari having been part of every single one of those triumphs.
For Deepika, the gold medal carried additional significance. It became her 12th World Cup gold medal overall, equalling the national record held by compound star Jyothi Surekha Vennam for the most World Cup titles won by an Indian archer. The former world number one once again showcased her experience and composure in a high pressure final, reaffirming her status as one of India’s greatest archers. The triumph was made even more impressive considering India’s route to the final.
Earlier in the tournament, the Indian women stunned powerhouse South Korea in the semi-finals with a dominant 5-1 victory. South Korea, widely regarded as the strongest nation in Olympic archery history with 10 Olympic gold medals in the discipline, entered the match as favourites. However, the Indian trio delivered one of their most consistent performances, with teenager Kumkum Mohod emerging as a standout performer alongside senior archers Deepika and Ankita Bhakat.
Kumkum Mohod’s rise has become one of the major talking points of the tournament. The 17 year old archer from Maharashtra impressed in only her second World Cup appearance and displayed remarkable maturity on the international stage. Her calm shooting under pressure in both the semi-final and final earned praise from coaches and fans alike.
India’s campaign in Shanghai also witnessed a strong showing from Simranjeet Kaur in the women’s recurve individual category. Simranjeet finished fourth after narrowly losing 4-6 to former world champion Jang Minhee of South Korea in the bronze medal match. Earlier in the day, she had suffered a straight set defeat against reigning world champion Kang Chaeyoung in the semi-finals. Despite missing out on a medal, her run to the last four highlighted India’s growing depth in women’s recurve archery.
India concluded the Shanghai World Cup campaign with two medals. Alongside the women’s recurve team gold, Sahil Jadhav secured a bronze medal in the men’s compound event, marking his maiden World Cup podium finish.
The gold medal in Shanghai comes at a crucial time for Indian archery as preparations intensify for upcoming international events, including the Asian Games and the build-up toward the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. India has long been considered a strong contender in world archery but is still chasing its first Olympic medal in the sport. Victories against elite teams like South Korea and China indicate that the current generation of archers possesses both the talent and temperament required to compete with the very best on the global stage.
