Jamshedpur: Tata Steel proudly congratulates Tata Archery Academy (TAA) athlete Ankita Bhakat on creating history at the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Games in Japan, as she helped India win its first-ever gold medal in the Women’s Recurve Team event.
Ankita, along with Kirti Sharma and Kumkum Mohod, defeated defending champions South Korea 5-3 in a closely contested gold-medal match at Okazaki on October 2. The victory brought an end to South Korea’s seven-edition winning streak in the event and marked a historic breakthrough for Indian women’s recurve archery.
For Ankita, the gold marks a remarkable journey at the Asian Games. She was part of India’s bronze-medal-winning Women’s Recurve Team at the 2022 Asian Games, and four years later, she has helped India move from the bronze podium to the top step. The 2022 team comprised Ankita Bhakat, Bhajan Kaur and Simranjeet Kaur.
From TAA trainee to Asian Games champion
Hailing from Kolkata, Ankita joined Tata Archery Academy, Jamshedpur, in 2014 at the age of 16. At TAA, she transitioned to recurve archery and trained under renowned coaches, including Padma Shri Purnima Mahato, Head Coach, Tata Archery Academy. Her years at the Academy helped her evolve from a young talent into an international-level archer.
Her first major international breakthrough came in 2017, when she and Jemson Singh Ningthoujam won gold in the junior mixed-team event at the World Archery Youth Championships in Rosario, Argentina. The victory marked India’s first world youth title since 2011.
Since then, Ankita has represented India at some of the biggest international sporting events, including the Asian Games, World Championships and Olympic Games. Her journey has been marked by consistent performances at the highest level and the support of a sustained high-performance ecosystem.
In 2021, Ankita was part of India’s Women’s Recurve Team that won gold at Archery World Cup Stage 1 in Guatemala and again at Stage 3 in Paris. In May 2026, she added another World Cup stage gold to her record as part of the Indian team that defeated China in the final at Stage 2 in Shanghai. With these victories, Ankita has now been part of three World Cup stage gold-winning Indian women’s recurve teams.
In November 2025, Ankita achieved another landmark when she became the first Indian woman to win an individual recurve gold at the Asian Archery Championships. She defeated Korea’s Paris 2024 Olympic silver medallist Nam Suhyeon 7-3 in the final in Dhaka.
A historic victory in Japan
The Asian Games final was a closely fought contest, with India and South Korea remaining level through the opening stages. India held its composure in challenging conditions and took the crucial third set to move ahead 4-2.
With the match poised on a knife-edge, the final set once again went down to the wire. Kumkum Mohod’s crucial 10 helped India secure the required point, sealing a historic 5-3 victory and India’s maiden Asian Games gold in the Women’s Recurve Team event.
The triumph adds another significant chapter to the legacy of Tata Archery Academy, which has played an important role in nurturing young archers and supporting their journey from grassroots training to the international stage.
Ankita’s journey from a 16-year-old trainee who joined TAA in 2014 to an Asian Games gold medallist in 2026 reflects the value of long-term athlete development, dedicated coaching, sustained training and a strong sporting ecosystem.
Ankita Bhakat, Gold Medallist, Indian Women’s Recurve Team, said: “This is a very special moment for me and for all of us. Winning India’s first-ever Asian Games gold in the women’s recurve team event is something we will always cherish. We knew we had a strong team, but against Korea, we had to stay focused on every single arrow and trust each other. I am grateful to my coaches, my teammates, my family and everyone who has supported me throughout this journey. TAA has been an important part of my growth as an archer, and I hope this medal inspires many more young archers to dream big and believe that they can make history for India.”
Ankita has also dedicated the historic victory to her family, coaches, support staff and the nation.
D B Sundara Ramam, Vice President, Corporate Services, Tata Steel, said: “This is a moment of immense pride for Tata Steel and for everyone associated with Tata Archery Academy. Ankita’s historic Asian Games gold, together with Kirti and Kumkum, is a remarkable achievement for Indian archery. Her journey from a young athlete who joined the Academy in 2014 to standing on the top of the Asian Games podium is a testament to her perseverance, discipline and commitment, as well as the sustained efforts of her coaches and the support system around her. We congratulate Ankita, her teammates, coaches and everyone who has contributed to this memorable achievement. Her success reinforces our belief in nurturing sporting talent over the long term and providing athletes the environment they need to pursue excellence.”
Tata Steel congratulates Ankita Bhakat, Kirti Sharma and Kumkum Mohod on their historic achievement and wishes the Indian archery contingent continued success at the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Games
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