Ankita Bhakat pulled off the biggest win of her career, stunning Paris 2024 Olympics silver medallist Nam Suhyeon in a gripping five-set final to secure the recurve women’s gold medal at the 24th Asian Archery Championships in Dhaka on Friday.
In the tournament’s biggest upset, Bhakat overpowered Korea’s Suhyeon 7-3 for her career’s first individual title in a continental championship. The gold was also first for India in the recurve women’s individual event.
Level at 3-all after the third set, the 36th ranked Indian stayed focused throughout, shooting four 10s in the last six arrows and the much-need nine in the last arrow to end the Korean challenge in the finals. The 27-year-old Bhakat had earlier edged out senior teammate, former world number one Deepika Kumari, in a thrilling semifinal.
“I’m so happy. This is my biggest win ever in individual events. Playing in Archery Premier League has boosted my confidence. I enjoyed shooting today,” said Bhakat who was joined on the recurve women’s individual podium by little-known Sangeeta, the silver medallist at Tashkent Asian Cup leg 2, after she surprised Kumari 6-5 in another dramatic shoot-off.
Bhakat’s brilliant run was matched by Dhiraj Bommadevara, the 2025 Hyundai Archery World Cup Stage 1 bronze medallist, who too denied Korea the recurve men’s gold for the first time since Bangkok 2015.
The Dhaka 2025 also marked the first time that India won both recurve individual gold medals.
