Asian Games 2026: Indian women's compound archers win gold; mixed team edges into final
India's compound archers delivered a gold medal and a place in a final on a busy day for the country's athletes at the Asian Games 2026, with the squash and hockey teams also moving forward in their respective competitions.
The women's compound team of Jyothi Surekha Vennam, Prithika Pradeep and Chikitha Taniparthi defeated China in the team final to win gold. Compound archery, in which archers use a bow fitted with pulleys and a mechanical release aid, is contested at the Asian Games even though it is not part of the current Olympic programme. That has made it a priority for teams across the continent seeking medals at this level, and India has been among those to gain from it.
In the mixed team event, India edged Thailand by a single point in a tense semifinal to reach the final, where South Korea await. Because archery scores are counted in whole points, a one-point margin is the narrowest possible winning difference, underlining how close the contest was.
India's women's squash team, meanwhile, assured itself of a medal by beating Singapore 2-0 to reach the semifinals. Tanvi Khanna gave India the lead with a gritty 11-6, 4-11, 15-13, 11-1 win over Au Yeong Wai Iynn in a 32-minute opening singles match. Anahat Singh, who won silver in the individual event, then sealed the tie with an 11-7, 11-3, 11-4 win over Au Yeong Wai Yhann in just 22 minutes.
Reaching the last four guarantees at least a bronze medal in the team event. Squash will make its Olympic debut at the Los Angeles 2028 Games, and India's steady presence in the closing stages of continental competitions is likely to be watched closely as that milestone approaches.
The women's hockey team will face South Korea in the semifinal. A win would bring India closer to securing direct qualification for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics, which gives the match added significance for a side with a long Olympic tradition.
In shooting, Neeru Dhanda will return to action in the trap mixed team event alongside Kynan Chenai, following her individual gold medal in the women's trap. Her performance in the mixed event will be one of the day's keenly followed contests for the Indian contingent.
The Asian Games bring together athletes from across the continent in dozens of sports and, in several disciplines, serve as a pathway to Olympic qualification. For India, results in archery, squash, hockey and shooting carry weight beyond the medal table because of what they signal ahead of the 2028 Games.
For India, the day's returns continue a pattern of strength in archery and squash, two disciplines in which Indian athletes have consistently challenged for medals at the continental level. The mixed archery final against South Korea and the women's hockey semifinal will be the key events to follow in the coming days.
