Asian Archery Championship: Ankita Bhakat stuns Olympic silver-medallist Nam to clinch gold

Indian archer Ankita Bhakat capped a sensational day with the most important win of her profession, gorgeous Paris Olympics silver-medallist Nam Suhyeon of South Korea 7-3 in a tense five-set closing to say the ladies’s recurve gold on the Asian Archery Championships, in Dhaka on Friday (November 14, 2025).

India additionally secured the ladies’s recurve bronze after Sangeeta edged out veteran five-time Olympian Deepika Kumari 6-5 in a dramatic shoot-off.

Ankita had earlier knocked out her longtime senior teammate, former world No. 1 Deepika Kumari, within the semifinals.

Locked at 5-5, each archers shot a 9 within the shoot-off, however Ankita’s arrow was nearer to the centre, sending her into the title conflict.

Ankita started the ultimate in commanding vogue, firing two 10s to take the opening set 29-27.

The second set resulted in a scrappy 27-27 draw as each archers faltered. Ankita slipped to an 8 whereas Nam dropped to a 7.

Nam levelled the match by claiming the third set 28-26, with Ankita unable to discover a single 10.

However the Indian hit again brilliantly within the fourth, nailing two 10s in an excellent 29-28 effort to steer 5-3. Displaying steely composure within the decider, Ankita as soon as once more delivered two 10s to clinch the gold, finishing a breakthrough triumph in opposition to considered one of Asia’s most constant performers.