Chikitha Taniparthi鈥檚 Journey From Karate To Asian Games Gold
For Chikitha Taniparthi, the two gold medals won at the Asian Games are more than a breakthrough on the international stage. They are also the reward for a decision taken by her father years ago, when the young Telangana athlete was more interested in karate than archery.
The 21-year-old from Sultanpur village in Peddapalli district made a memorable Asian Games debut, winning women鈥檚 team gold alongside Jyothi Surekha Vennam and Prithika Pradeep before combining with Sahil Jadhav to claim mixed team gold.
From Karate To Archery
Chikitha did not initially choose archery. Her father Srinvasa Rao, a farmer, wanted his children to participate in sport because he never had the opportunity to play competitively.
“I didn’t get into archery on my own. It was my father’s choice. He wanted me to play sport because he couldn’t play any sport. When I was small, he used to take us to playgrounds. Every day we used to play some games,” Chikitha recalled.
From Class 6 to 8, she trained in karate and even earned her first black belt.
Her introduction to archery came almost by chance when her uncle gifted her a toy bow during Dussehra.
“He bought a recurve Decathlon bow. I tried it just for fun. We used to shoot just for fun at that time,” she said.
Chikitha began shooting at a target she created in her backyard, gradually developing an interest in the sport.
Her father noticed her potential and took a loan to purchase better equipment. She started pursuing archery seriously in 2018 and was selected for a junior camp in 2021.
Saina Nehwal Inspired A Sporting Decision
The decision to move Chikitha away from karate was strengthened by another Indian sporting success.
Her father was inspired by Saina Nehwal becoming India’s first Olympic medallist in badminton and decided that his daughter should pursue an individual sport where success would depend largely on her own performance.
“After Saina Nehwal won an Olympic medal, he decided that I should play another sport,” Chikitha said.
However, pursuing archery from her village was not easy because the necessary facilities were unavailable.
The family eventually contacted the wife of decorated Indian compound archer Abhishek Verma. Chikitha travelled to train with him and spent five days at the facility before being selected for training in Sonipat.
“From that time to now, he (Abhishek Verma) is supporting me, helping me, teaching me. He is my inspiration,” she said.
Chikitha has trained in Sonipat since 2022, steadily progressing through the Indian system.
World Champion To Asian Games Double Gold
The hard work began producing international results. Chikitha became world youth champion last year and also won team silver medals at the World Cup in 2025 and 2026.
Her Asian Games debut, however, brought an even bigger breakthrough.
She first helped India win women’s team gold before partnering Sahil Jadhav in the mixed team event. The pair survived a tense shoot-off against Korea to secure another gold medal.
Chikitha said meditation and breathing exercises have helped her remain composed during high-pressure moments.
“I do meditation and breathing exercises regularly, twice a day. I trust my process and follow it for a long time,” she said.
The two Asian Games gold medals also provided relief after a difficult period in her career.
“Personally I have been struggling this past year, facing some difficulties. After becoming world champion last year, it became very difficult for me to perform at the same level. I was struggling with my shooting aim,” she said.
After winning two medals at the Asia Cup, Chikitha worked her way back into the Indian first team and regained her confidence.
“I just concentrated and said ‘you have to do it for yourself and give it 100’,” she added.
