India’s Ankita Bhakat clinched the women’s recurve individual gold at the Asian Archery Championships on Friday, defeating Paris Olympics silver medallist Nam Su-hyeon of Korea 7-3 in a breakthrough victory.
Bhakat opened with a 29-27 win in the first set, but Nam levelled the contest 3-3 after taking the third set. She regained control with double 10s in the fourth set to move 5-3 ahead, and sealed the title with another pair of 10s and a 9 in the final set.
In the semifinals, Bhakat edged five-time Olympian Deepika Kumari 6-5 in a shoot-off after Deepika fought back from 0-4 down to force a decider. Earlier, the 27-year-old had knocked out top seed Jang Minhee to set up the all-Indian semifinal.
India’s Sangeeta, who lost her semifinal 0-6 to Nam, secured bronze after beating Deepika 6-5 in a shoot-off.
India also won the men’s recurve team title for the first time since 2007, ending Korea’s unbeaten run since 2013. Yashdeep Bhoge, Atanu Das and Rahul beat Korea 5-4 in a shoot-off, prevailing on closest-to-centre after both sides shot 29.
The recurve mixed team of Anshika Kumari and Yashdeep fell short in the bronze medal match, losing to Korea’s Jang Minhee and Seo Mingi.