Kumkum Mohod keeps focus on LA Olympic gold after Asian Games success

Seventeen-year-old Kumkum Mohod returned from the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya having won individual and women’s team recurve golds and a mixed team silver, and spoke about her future goals during an interaction organised by the Sports Authority of India on Friday.

Mohod received a grand welcome and a roadshow in her hometown of Amaravati in Maharashtra after the Games, but said her coach Praful Dange urged her to remain focused on a larger target. “My sir (coach) said, ‘Forget what has happened. This is not our dream. Our dream is to win the LA Olympics (gold). You haven’t done anything yet. Stay grounded. Just focus on your work,’” Kumkum said, during an interaction organised by the Sports Authority of India on Friday.

At the Asian Games in Japan, Kumkum claimed individual and women’s team gold and took mixed team silver, and she has also partnered with B. Dhiraj to win a World Cup Stage gold in Antalya. “We could’ve won (mixed team gold) too. Dhiraj bhaiya advised me to enjoy the process irrespective of the result. He said, ‘If you make a mistake, it’s mine. If I make a mistake, it’s the coach’s. So, don’t take any load and shoot’.”

When Dhiraj could not be present, he sent her a message: ‘Don’t look at the opponent and behave like a champion.’ Kumkum said she had skipped simple pleasures of childhood, calmed herself to win a tense shoot-off in the final and thereby secured the gold and an Olympic quota place for the country.

Kumkum said her father told her, ‘You’ll make history in LA,’ as she recalled her parents’ sacrifices, and she named Virat Kohli and Deepika Kumari among those whose work ethic she admires. A Kohli fangirl, Kumkum said: “I like his discipline and hard work. Despite his stature, he is so grounded. I have not thought what to ask if I meet him,” and she described Deepika Kumari’s dedication as inspirational.

She paid tribute to para archers Sheetal Devi and Payal Nag for their determination. “I salute them. Their mindset is strong. They will do well in the Para Asian Games,” said Kumkum, looking forward to increasing her strength and fine-tuning technical aspects.

Now, she is keen to board the LA flight and win the gold there.