Ten years ago, archery coach Udham Singh traveled to the village of Ritauli, located near Jind in Haryana, to scout young talent for his archery academy. Among those interested was Kirti Sharma, but the coach deemed her unsuitable due to her slender physique, which lacked the strength required to draw a bowstring effectively. At that time, Kirti subsisted on just a single glass of milk throughout the day, refusing to eat anything else. However, in 2019, when the same coaches returned to the village, Kirti was given a second opportunity.
Now 19 years old, Kirti seized that opportunity and made history by winning a gold medal in recurve archery at the Asian Games held on Friday. Joining her were teammates Kumkum Mohod and Ankita Bhakat, who together triumphed over the formidable South Korean women’s team, known for their excellent track record in archery.
This victory marked India’s first gold medal in the Asian Games utilizing the recurve bow. The match was tightly contested, with the Indian team tied at 2-2 after the second set. They managed to win the fourth set and secured the title with a final score of 5-2 at the Okazaki Central Park Multipurpose Square in Japan.
The South Korean squad featured notable athletes, including Kang Chae-young, a gold medalist from the Tokyo Olympics and the reigning world champion, alongside teammates Oh Ye-jin and Lee Yunji. The South Korean women’s archery team has dominated the event, winning their 10th consecutive Olympic team gold at the Paris 2024 Olympics, a streak that began in Seoul 1988.
From a girl who was once too frail to handle a bow, Kirti has now achieved remarkable success.
Kirti and her father shared insights about her early struggles with weight. “Kirti was very thin and would only consume a glass of milk each day. She was reluctant to eat, which at times caused us concern. When coaches initially rejected her due to her physique, she remained undeterred. She understood their decision and later proved herself worthy of selection. Archery took her to the academy in Jharkhand, and now our daughter has won an Asian Games gold medal all the way in Japan,” her father Vijay stated in an interview.
Kirti reflected, “While my eating habits may not have seemed problematic by average standards, I wasn’t consuming enough for an athlete. I was always lean, so I had to adjust my diet. People often commented on my weight, but my parents never discouraged me. However, there were questions about why they would send a girl away for training in Jharkhand and invest money in her.”
After joining the academy, Kirti faced significant challenges to achieve the competitive fitness required for archery. Coach Udham Singh had initially rejected Kirti due to her slight build but recognized her potential during a subsequent visit to the village. “We had to focus on her strength and align her body with the bow’s motion. We worked on her bow arm strength and stability through dry practice. When Kirti was selected for the SAI center in Hazaribagh, we collaborated with nutritionists to help her develop shoulder muscle power,” he explained.
Kirti added, “I dedicated myself to improving my shoulder positioning technique, which was initially weak. I often watched videos of Dhiraj Bommadevara, admiring his arrow release technique and shoulder stability, even though my style differs from his. I worked hard to refine my shooting form, as my release was inconsistent in the beginning.”
On Friday, the team faced not only the strong South Korean competitors but also challenging winds at the archery venue. However, nothing could obstruct the path of these history-makers.
Nitin Sharma serves as an Assistant Editor on the sports team at The Indian Express, working from Chandigarh. He is responsible for the print sports desk while also breaking news online. Nitin has received the Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Award in 2017 for his story ‘Harmans of Moga’ and has been honored multiple times with the Laadli Media Awards for Gender Sensitivity. His latest award was in November 2025 for an article on Deepthi Jeevanji, who earned India’s first gold medal at the World Athletics Para Championship.
With a focus on Olympic sports, Nitin’s interests include shooting, boxing, wrestling, and athletics. Over his 17 years at The Indian Express, he has reported on stories across India, from the Andaman and Nicobar Islands to the North East. He also covers various cricket events, including women’s cricket. Nitin has been involved in major events such as the Commonwealth Games, ODI World Cup, T20 World Cup, and AIBA World Youth Boxing Championships.
An alumnus of the School of Communication Studies at Panjab University, Nitin holds a Master’s degree in Mass Communications. He is also an avid quiz participant, having developed his interest in a small town near the Punjab-Himachal Pradesh border. In his spare time, he enjoys exploring new treks in the mountains or relaxing by the river Beas in his hometown.
