Chikitha Taniparthi and Sahil Jadhav win mixed compound gold at Asian Games 2026, clinch LA 2028 quota

Chikitha Taniparthi and Sahil Jadhav beat South Korea’s Park and Choi Eun Gyu in a shoot-off to claim the compound mixed team gold at the Asian Games 2026 on September 30, and India secured a quota place for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

The Indian pair reached the final after surviving a tight semi-final against Thailand, winning 156-155; India led 39-37 in the first end and Thailand’s Kanoknapus Kaewchomphu was awarded a nine following a review while Peerawat Rattanapongkiat shot an eight.

The final opened with all four archers scoring 10s; India then produced a perfect 40 in the first end while Korea’s Park dropped to a nine, leaving Korea on 39. In the second end India recorded four more 10s and Korea again scored 39, giving India an 80-78 lead at the halfway mark and a 100-98 advantage after 10 arrows.

After 12 arrows Korea had moved to 117 while Chikitha and Sahil each shot 9s, trimming India’s margin. In the last end Park and Choi started with two 10s each, Chikitha and Sahil matched them and Korea closed the end with two more 10s; India required 19 to tie and 20 to win, Chikitha shot a nine and Sahil a 10 to force a shoot-off.

In the shoot-off Chikitha and Park both hit 10s, with Park’s arrow judged closer to the centre; Sahil followed with a 10 and Choi shot a nine, handing gold to India. Chikitha’s nine from Choi in the shoot-off was the decisive arrow mentioned in reports.

Chikitha also featured in India’s women’s compound team with Prithika Pradeep and Jyothi Surekha Vennam, which defeated China 238-234 in the final; that score equalled the world record and retained the title for India.

The mixed team gold was India’s eighth at the Games, bringing the nation’s overall tally to 54 medals: 8 gold, 21 silver and 25 bronze.