In a landmark performance at the Archery World Cup Stage-2 in Shanghai, the Indian women’s recurve team pulled off one of the biggest upsets of the season by defeating the 10-time Olympic champions South Korea 5-1 in the semifinals on 7 May 2026. The emphatic victory sets up a gold medal clash against second-seeded China on Sunday and guarantees India its first medal of the tournament.
The triumphant Indian trio of Deepika Kumari, Ankita Bhakat and Kumkum Mohod combined precision, discipline and tactical control to overwhelm a Korean squad that has long defined excellence in recurve archery. South Korea’s legacy in the sport — built on consistent Olympic dominance — made the Indian win all the more significant, marking only the fourth time in history that India has beaten the Korean women’s recurve team in international competition.
From the outset, India took command:
• In the first set, the Indians shot a composed 58–55, setting the early tone and gaining a psychological edge.
• The second set was tightly contested, ending 56–56, but India maintained their overall advantage.
• The decisive third set saw India again score 58 to Korea’s 56, sealing the match at 5-1.
Veteran Deepika Kumari’s anchoring presence was pivotal, stabilising India’s scoring in pressure situations, while Ankita Bhakat’s consistency and Kumkum Mohod’s confident shot execution complemented the team’s balanced performance.
The Indian women had earlier dispatched Uzbekistan 6-2 in the Round of 16 and edged Vietnam 5-4 in the quarterfinals, building momentum that carried them into the semifinal with confidence.
Quote: “This win is a statement of how far Indian archery has come,” an unnamed team official said. “To beat South Korea in such a commanding way reflects not just skill but belief.”
Meanwhile, India’s men’s recurve team — featuring Tarundeep Rai, Dhiraj Bommadevara and Yashdeep Bhoge — suffered an early exit, losing 2-6 to Bangladesh in the opening round.
As the women’s recurve team prepares for the final against China, expectations are high that this result could signal a turning point for Indian archery on the world stage.
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