AI-NAGOYA, JAPAN — Team India’s campaign at the Asian Games 2026 continued to scale new heights on Friday, delivering a power-packed start to Day 13 across multiple disciplines. From historic archery triumphs to high-stakes medal matches in hockey and boxing, Indian athletes kept the national tricolour flying high.
Historic Archery Gold Shakes Up South Korea’s Hegemony
The crowning moment of the morning came from the archery arena, where the Indian women’s recurve team etched their names into the history books. The formidable trio of Ankita Bhakat, Kirti Sharma, and Kumkum Mohod pulled off a stunning upset, defeating archery powerhouse South Korea in a nail-biting final to secure the gold medal.
South Korea, a 10-time Olympic medalist in the discipline, had maintained an unbroken streak of seven consecutive Asian Games team gold medals since 1998. The Indian trio shattered that record in a tense battle. After tightly contested sets that saw the first two tied (54-54, 56-56), India seized control in the third set with a 55-51 victory. Though the fourth set ended in a 54-54 draw, India sealed a historic 5-3 triumph to claim their maiden Asian Games gold in the event.
Sailing Bronze Added to the Tally
In sailing, India’s medal count received a welcome boost. The women’s skiff team, comprising Harshita Tomar and Shital Verma, was officially awarded the bronze medal. The duo initially finished fourth, but moved up a spot following the disqualification of China from a couple of races.
High-Stakes Finals Awaited in Hockey and Boxing
As Day 13 progressed, excitement shifted to team sports and combat arenas. The Indian women's hockey team squared off against China in a blockbuster gold-medal clash, with a direct qualification berth for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics also riding on the line.
Meanwhile, India's boxing contingent stood poised for glory, with three elite pugilists—Olympic medalist Lovlina Borgohain, Ankush Panghal, and Parveen—stepping into the ring for their respective gold-medal bouts. Action also intensified across wrestling, canoe slalom, and sepaktakraw as India looked to further cement its position in the medal tally.
