Kumkum Anil Mohod hails from a family that operates a modest sweet box manufacturing business in Amravati, Maharashtra.
In Kolkata, Ankita Bhakat’s father worked as a milk delivery person until she confidently informed him that her earnings from archery would sufficiently support their household expenses, allowing him to forgo his early morning shifts.
Initially, Kirti faced criticism from coaches for her slim physique, which they believed lacked the strength necessary for archery. However, the trio—28-year-old Ankita, 19-year-old Kirti, and 17-year-old Kumkum—has now made history by securing India’s first-ever gold medal in Recurve Archery at the Asian Games, utilizing the complex Recurve bow.
In a remarkable performance, the Indian team triumphed over the formidable South Korean women’s team with a score of 5-2 in the final held in Nagoya. The Korean squad included Olympic team gold medalist and current world champion Kang Chae-young, alongside teammates Oh Ye-jin and Lee Yunji.
During the event at Okazaki Central Park Multipurpose Square in Japan, the Indian archers were tied at 2-2 after the second set (each worth 2 points). They managed to win the fourth set and secure a tie in the fifth, ultimately clinching the title in a historic achievement for India.
Back in Amravati, Kumkum’s father, Anil, was on the phone with Raghuvir Mithaiyan, a renowned sweet shop, to arrange a bulk order for celebratory sweet boxes.
On October 2, 2026, a proud moment unfolded for India as Ankita Bhakat, Kumkum Anil Mohod, and Kirti brought home the nation’s first gold in the Recurve Women’s Team event at the Asian Games, showcasing their precision and determination.
Kumkum’s journey into archery began in 2018 when her grandmother Kusum gifted her Rs 3,000 to buy her first wooden bow. She started training under coach Prafull Dange in Amravati and quickly achieved a silver medal at the sub-junior nationals just six months later. Her father later purchased a second-hand bow, enabling her to pursue her passion further. “My mother supported her initial bow purchase, and Kumkum would take shared transport to her training sessions,” Anil recounts.
As other children dropped out, Anil dedicated time from his sweet box business to drive Kumkum to her training sessions. “We managed to buy her a second-hand bow with our savings. She always emphasized that it’s one’s spirit that counts, regardless of the equipment,” he noted in an interview.
Kirti was the third member of the team, having surpassed seasoned Olympian Deepika Kumari during trials. Her journey began in 2016 when coach Udham Singh visited her village near Jind in Haryana to recruit young talent. Initially, she was deemed unsuitable due to her physique but was accepted into the program three years later in 2019. “I initially turned her down due to her build, but after three years, we brought her on board. We focused on her strength and alignment with the bow,” coach Singh explained.
Kirti’s father, Vijay, who owns three acres of land, took out loans to purchase a second bow valued at Rs 60,000, supporting her training at the academy and subsequent selection for the Sports Authority of India (SAI) center in Hazaribagh, Jharkhand, in 2022. “We are simple farmers, and Kirti struggled with her appetite. Despite initial rejections, she remained resilient and ultimately succeeded, winning gold for India at the Asian Games,” he shared.
Before heading to Japan, Kirti expressed admiration for Lim Si-hyeon, a Korean triple gold medalist from the Paris Olympics, stating, “Although she isn’t competing here, I study her techniques through her videos.”
Ankita Bhakat, who finished fourth in the mixed team event at the Paris Olympics, began her archery career in 2006 at a local event in Kolkata. She was later recruited by the Tata Archery Academy in 2014. Her father, Shantanu, who was delivering milk in their neighborhood during the final, reflected on their financial struggles during her training years. “There were times I had to borrow money from my brothers to cover her training and competition expenses,” he recounted.
In Amravati, Anil was busy arranging celebrations for Kumkum’s achievement, reaching out to friends and family to share the joyous news. “I have spent my life making sweet boxes for others. Today, we celebrate these three remarkable girls and the gold medal for India,” he expressed proudly.
Nitin Sharma serves as an Assistant Editor for the sports division of The Indian Express, based in Chandigarh.
