UKHRUL: India continued its strong run at the Asian Games in Japan, adding a series of gold medals in archery, boxing, wrestling and women’s hockey, while teenager Kumkum Mohod and golfer Pranavi Urs added further gold on Saturday.
India’s medal tally has climbed to 79 — 18 gold, 26 silver and 35 bronze, keeping the country in fifth position in the overall standings.
The latest gold came from Kumkum Mohod, who defeated South Korea’s Oh Yejin in a dramatic shoot-off to win the women’s individual recurve title.
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The 17-year-old Indian recovered from a deficit to force the final into a shoot-off after the contest ended 5-5. Kumkum then produced a perfect 10, while Oh scored eight, sealing India’s first Asian Games gold in the women’s individual recurve event.
Kumkum had earlier been part of the Indian women’s recurve team that won gold, making her a double gold medallist at the Games.
The women’s recurve team of Ankita Bhakat, Kirti Sharma and Kumkum Mohod created history by defeating world champions South Korea 5-3 in the final. India took the decisive advantage in the third set and held its nerve in the fourth to secure its maiden Asian Games gold in the event.
Earlier, India defeated China 5-1 in the semifinal to reach the women’s recurve team final for the first time.
In boxing, Lovlina Borgohain ended India’s 12-year wait for a women’s Asian Games gold by defeating China’s Bao Ziyi 5-0 in the 75kg final. She became only the second Indian woman after MC Mary Kom to win Asian Games boxing gold.
Parveen Hooda also won gold in the women’s 65kg category, beating Chinese Taipei’s Nien-Chin Chen 3-2 in a split decision, while Ankush Panghal took the men’s 80kg title after defeating South Korea’s Kim Minseong.
In wrestling, Sujeet Kalkal produced one of the day’s biggest comebacks, recovering from a 4-9 deficit to defeat Tajikistan’s Abdulmazhid Kudiev 10-9 in the men’s 65kg freestyle final.
India’s women’s hockey team also ended a 44-year wait for Asian Games gold, defeating defending champions China 1-0 in the final.
Lalremsiami Hmar zote scored the only goal in the 10th minute, while goalkeeper Savita Punia made a crucial penalty-stroke save to preserve India’s lead.
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The victory gave India its second women’s hockey gold at the Asian Games, and its first since 1982. It also secured the Indian team a direct berth at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
India also took silver in the mixed recurve team event, with Kumkum Mohod and Dhiraj Bommadevara finishing runners-up to China.
In sailing, Nethra Kumanan won bronze in the women’s dinghy event, while India secured a bronze in men’s quadrant at the sepaktakraw competition.
On Saturday, Pranavi Urs added another gold for India by winning the women’s individual golf event. She also helped India secure silver in the women’s team competition alongside Aditi Ashok and Diksha Dagar.
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