India Bags 4 Gold Medals in Archery and Shooting, Vaults to 8th in Medal Tally
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Wednesday, September 30, 2026, turned into an extraordinary "Golden Day" for the Indian contingent at the 20th Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, as athletes clinched an astonishing haul of four gold medals and three bronze medals in a single day of high-octane competition. Spearheaded by an absolute clean sweep in compound archery and an Asian Games record-setting performance in trap shooting, India’s overall medal count soared to a milestone 60 medals (10 gold, 21 silver, and 29 bronze), propelling the nation to eighth position on the overall leaderboard. With multiple assured podium finishes locked across hockey, boxing, and squash, the contingent continues to make significant strides at the continental tournament.
Clean Sweep in Compound Archery: 3 Gold Medals and an LA 2028 Olympic Quota
Indian compound archers unleashed a masterclass at the range, sweeping all three team disciplines against world-class opposition:
Women’s Team Conquers China: The trio of Jyothi Surekha Vennam, Chikita, and Prithika Pradeep captured India's first gold of the day, delivering nerve-wracking 10s under pressure to defeat powerhouse China 238-234 in a thrilling final.
Mixed Team Thriller vs. Korea: The young pair of Chikita and Sahil Jadhav edged out South Korea’s Park Jung-eun and Choi Eun-gyu by the narrowest of margins, sealing a dramatic 158-157 victory. Crucially, the mixed team triumph earned India an official quota for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
Men's Team Delivers 1-Point Win: Completing the trifecta, Kushal Dalal, Sahil Jadhav, and Ganesh Mani Ratnam Thirumuru held off a fierce Chinese challenge to triumph 238-237. With these historic team efforts, both Chikita and Sahil Jadhav emerged as double gold medalists at the Games.
Shooting Range Glory: Neeru Dhanda and Kynan Chenai Smash Games Record
India's shooting contingent continued their stellar form at the shotgun ranges, increasing their sectoral haul to 15 medals:
Record-Breaking Mixed Trap Gold: Recovering from an early hiccup, the duo of Neeru Dhanda and Kynan Chenai hit a sensational combined score of 34 out of 40 in the final, outshooting Qatar (32) to set a new Asian and Asian Games record.
Neeru's Historic Treble: The gold marked Dhanda’s second top-podium finish of the Games, following her historic individual women’s trap gold and a team silver, crowning her as the most decorated individual Indian athlete in Nagoya.
Shooting Dominance: The national shooting contingent has now amassed three gold, eight silver, and four bronze medals, reinforcing India's status as a continental shotgun heavyweight.
Combat Sports Resiliency: Bronze Medals in Boxing and Greco-Roman Wrestling
Beyond the shooting and archery ranges, Indian combat sports athletes fought hard to add three bronze medals to the national tally:
Ring Accolades for Pugilists: In boxing, Priya Ghanghas (60kg) and Kapil Pokhariya (90kg) fought valiantly in their respective semi-final bouts, bowing out after fierce contests to confirm dual bronze medals.
Sunil Kumar Powers to Wrestling Bronze: Veteran Greco-Roman wrestler Sunil Kumar (87kg) produced tactical defense in his medal playoff to grab a well-earned bronze.
Medal Rush Continues: Assured Podiums in Hockey, Boxing, and Squash
India is positioned for further medal additions in the coming days:
Women's Hockey Final Berth: The Indian women's hockey team blanked regional rivals South Korea 2-0 in a dominant semi-final, marching into the gold medal showdown.
Lovlina in Boxing Final: Olympic medalist Lovlina Borgohain punched her way into the final of the 75kg women’s boxing category, guaranteeing at least a silver.
Squash Teams Eye Gold: Both the men’s and women’s squash squads secured guaranteed medals by advancing to their respective semi-final fixtures, setting up an action-packed conclusion to India’s Asian Games campaign.
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