The Indian trio of Deepika Kumari, Ankita Bhakat and Kumkum Mohod upstaged World Cup Stage-1 champion and host China, consisting of Zhu Jingyi, Huang Yuwei and Yu Qi, 5-4 in the final to claim the recurve women’s team gold medal at the Archery World Cup Stage-2 in Shanghai on Sunday (May 10, 2026).
Riding on their inspiring 5-1 upset win over 10-time Olympic champion Korea in the semifinals, the Indian women’s team clinched a gold after five years. Both Deepika and Ankita were part of the team (also including Komalika Bari) that had beaten Mexico to secure the top honour at Guatemala City in 2021.
India, comprising two Olympians and a 17-year-old rookie (Kumkum), won the first set before China caught up and the two teams were eventually tied 4-4. In the shoot-off, the Chinese scored 8, 9, 9 and the Indians responded with 9, X, 9 to record a 28-26 win and script a morale-boosting performance ahead of the Asian Games.
Deepika, who had picked up an individual bronze at the same venue last year, said she successfully overcame a distraction in the final. “I did not shoot well then (Shanghai 2025)…I am heading in a good direction,” Deepika told World Archery.
In the women’s recurve individual event, Simranjeet Kaur, who achieved her career-best performance by reaching the semifinals, lost to Korean Olympic medallist Kang Chaeyoung 0-6 in the last-four and another Korean Jang Minhee 4-6 in the bronze medal match.
There was however heartbreak for Simranjeet Kaur who lost to World No. 1 and eventual champion Kang Chaeyoung of South Korea in straight sets in the semifinal, before going down to another Korean, Jang Minhee, in the playoff for the bronze medal.
India thus ended their campaign with two medals — one gold and bronze that came through Sahil Jadhav in the men’s individual compound section on Saturday (May 9, 2026).
The victory was especially sweeter as India had earlier stunned record 10-time Olympic champions South Korea in the semifinals en route to their first World Cup women’s team gold since 2021.
Deepika, who was also part of India’s World Cup-winning teams in Guatemala City and Paris in 2021, now has seven World Cup team gold medals to her name since 2010.
It was also the Indian women recurve team’s first World Cup medal in three years, its previous podium finish coming in Stage 4 in Paris in 2023, where Ankita was a member of the winning team.
Travelling without a full-time national coach amid the impasse over appointments, it was the vastly experienced Deepika who led from the front, constantly motivating her teammates during breaks and changeovers.
Prafull Dange, who was the designated women’s recurve coach after his ward Kumkum topped the national trials, largely remained in the background as Deepika guided the side through the pressure moments against a hostile home crowd and vocal Chinese support staff.
Against a young Chinese side comprising Zhu Jingyi, Huang Yuwei and teenage archer Yu Qi, who all made their World Cup debuts only last year, India looked in control initially but nearly let the match slip after taking the opening set (54-53).
Shooting last in the Indian order, Deepika set the tone with successive 10s as India took the first set despite Ankita (8-8) and 17-year-old Kumkum (10-8) putting up an inconsistent show.
Deepika continued her fine rhythm in the second set with another perfect 10 as India briefly held a one-point advantage (28-27) midway through the end. But China responded strongly with two 9s and a 10 in their final three arrows of the second set to post 55.
Ankita replied with a 9, but Kumkum managed only an 8, leaving Deepika needing a 10 to level the set.
The four-time Olympian, however, slipped to a 7 as India lost the set 52-55 and China drew level at 2-2.
The hosts then moved ahead in the third set. The teams were initially tied at 56, but a review upgraded China’s final arrow from 8 to 9, handing them the set 57-56 and a 4-2 lead.
India appeared on the verge of defeat in the fourth set despite Deepika rediscovering her touch with two 10s. Kumkum’s final arrow landed in the 7-ring as India posted a modest 54.
China required two 10s and a 9 from their last three arrows to seal the match.
Zhu and Huang delivered perfect 10s, but Yu Qi fell short before the Indians peaked in the tiebreaker.
A third medal eluded India after Simranjeet was outclassed by the reigning world champion Kang 6-0 (26-25, 24-29, 26-28).
Up against another Korean, Jang Minhee, in the bronze medal match, Simranjeet squandered an opening set lead before going down 4-6 (29-27, 27-29, 28-28, 28-29, 28-28).
(With inputs from PTI)
Published – May 10, 2026 08:51 am IST
