Double gold medallist Chikitha Taniparthi says winning two Asian Games titles and securing India’s first Olympic quota in compound archery are equally special
Okazaki, Sept 2026 : For Chikitha Taniparthi, the choice between two landmark achievements from her golden Asian Games campaign is almost impossible to make. The 22-year-old helped India win two gold medals at the Aichi-Nagoya Games and, more significantly, secured the country’s first Olympic quota in the compound mixed team event for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics.
“I like both — the gold and the Olympic quota. It is my first Olympics, and I guess we are the first Indian team to qualify,” Chikitha told IANS after becoming a double gold medallist at the Asian Games.
The Indian archer displayed remarkable composure alongside Sahil Jadhav in a dramatic compound mixed team final against South Korea. With the two teams locked at 157-157 after a fiercely contested match, the gold medal had to be decided in a shoot-off.
Chikitha stepped up first for India and delivered a perfect 10. Sahil followed with another 10, putting immense pressure on the South Korean pair. Choi Yonghee needed to score a 10 with his final arrow to keep South Korea in contention, but managed only a nine, handing India the gold.
“I was trying to be calm and confident,” Chikitha said, describing her approach during the tense finish.
The final had been a see-saw battle from the beginning. Chikitha and Sahil opened with 10s, helping India establish early momentum. The first end finished 20-20, but India moved ahead when Park Jungyoon missed a nine and the Indian pair responded with two 10s to take a 40-39 advantage.
India continued its accurate shooting in the second end, extending the lead to 80-78. South Korea fought back in the third end, but Chikitha and Sahil maintained their composure to hold a two-point advantage at 100-98 before the Koreans narrowed the gap to one.
The decisive fourth end produced another dramatic swing. South Korea applied pressure, and India needed two final arrows to force a shoot-off. Chikitha’s nine appeared to give South Korea the advantage, but Sahil responded with a crucial 10 to make the score 157-157.
The shoot-off then came down to the final arrows. Chikitha and Sahil both struck 10s, leaving South Korea needing perfection. Choi, however, could manage only a nine, confirming India’s victory.
The triumph gave Chikitha her second gold of the Games. Earlier, she had played a key role in India’s successful defence of the women’s compound team title alongside Prithika Pradeep and Jyothi Surekha Vennam.
The women’s team final against China also produced a remarkable performance from the Indian trio. India won 238-234, equalling the world record score set by South Korea at the 2014 Asian Games in Incheon.
India started strongly, taking a 30-28 lead in the opening end. Chikitha then opened the second end with a nine, but Prithika and Jyothi responded with perfect 10s as India continued to build its advantage, eventually leading 119-116.
China refused to surrender and kept applying pressure in the third end. The Indian trio responded emphatically, with Chikitha, Prithika and Jyothi all producing 10s in their second turns to take a 178-175 lead into the final end.
China began the last round with two nines and a 10. India answered with three perfect 10s. Although China subsequently produced three consecutive 10s, the Indian trio maintained their accuracy and finished with a score of 238, securing the gold by four points.
The women’s team title was Chikitha’s first gold medal in Nagoya, while the mixed team victory completed her double.
Throughout the competition, Chikitha said she tried not to be distracted by the magnitude of the occasion and instead concentrated on each individual shot.
“I was also checking the tally regularly. I was just thinking about that too, and I thought we have to give our best. Whatever happens, let it happen. Finally, we got it,” she said.
The celebrations, however, had to wait. After completing the competition and a series of media interactions, Chikitha had not yet spoken to her family.
“After the matches, I have been here giving all the interviews, so I didn’t get a chance to speak to my family. Now I will go and talk to them. I am feeling hungry also,” she said, adding that she wanted to try Japanese food if it was available.
Chikitha dedicated her two gold medals to her parents and supporters across India who had encouraged her journey.
“I dedicate this medal to my parents and our country, who supported and encouraged us and are watching this,” she said.
She credited her father for introducing her to archery and former Indian archer Abhishek Verma for helping shape her career. She also acknowledged the guidance she received from Vivek at the Sports Authority of India.
“This is my father’s dream, and because of him, I came into archery. After that, Abhishek Verma guided me a lot, and I am at SAI under Vivek sir,” she said.
Chikitha said her international journey remains focused on gradual improvement, better scores and gaining experience at the highest level.
The mixed team victory has added a significant milestone to India’s compound archery programme. With compound archery set to make its Olympic debut at Los Angeles 2028, Chikitha and Sahil’s triumph secured India’s quota place in the compound mixed team event and gave the young archer an Olympic dream to accompany her two Asian Games gold medals.
