Published By :

• Siddarth Sriram
• News18.com

Last Updated:May 10, 2026

Deepika Kumari inspired India to a dramatic shoot-off win over China in Shanghai as the women’s recurve team clinched their first World Cup gold since 2021.

Ankita Bhakat, Deepika Kumari and Kumkum Mohod (X)

India’s women’s recurve team delivered under pressure when it mattered most, edging past hosts China in a dramatic shoot-off to win gold at the Archery World Cup Stage 2 in Shanghai on Sunday.

The trio of Deepika Kumari, Ankita Bhakat and teenage archer Kumkum Mohod clinched a tense 5-4 victory after the match went down to a nail-biting decider, eventually sealing the shoot-off 28-26 against a stunned Chinese side.

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And this wasn’t just any gold-medal run.

Earlier in the tournament, the Indian team had already pulled off one of the biggest upsets of the event by knocking out 10-time Olympic champions South Korea in the semifinals, making this India’s first women’s recurve team World Cup gold since 2021 even sweeter.

For Deepika, the win added yet another milestone to an already glittering career. The four-time Olympian now has seven World Cup team gold medals since 2010 and once again proved why she remains the backbone of Indian recurve archery.

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India’s women also ended a frustrating three-year wait for a World Cup medal, with their previous podium finish coming in Paris in 2023.

India Hold Their Nerve

Facing a young and fearless Chinese trio of Zhu Jingyi, Huang Yuwei and Yu Qi in front of a loud home crowd, India started confidently by taking the opening set 54-53. Deepika immediately set the tone with successive 10s, steadying a slightly inconsistent start from Ankita and 17-year-old Kumkum.

But momentum quickly shifted. China responded strongly in the second set, capitalising after Deepika surprisingly shot a 7 with her final arrow, allowing the hosts to level the contest at 2-2.

The pressure only intensified from there. China edged ahead 4-2 after a tense third set, helped by a successful review that upgraded their final arrow from an 8 to a 9.

India suddenly looked on the brink. Even in the fourth set, Kumkum’s closing 7 appeared costly as India managed only 54. China then needed just a 9 from their final arrow to seal gold in regulation.

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But 18-year-old Yu Qi cracked under pressure, shooting an 8 to hand India a lifeline.

The Indians made sure they didn’t waste it, as Ankita opened the shoot-off with a 9, Kumkum followed with a superb 10, and Deepika calmly delivered a clutch 9 to secure the title.

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India’s medal tally in Shanghai has now climbed to two after compound archer Sahil Jadhav won bronze on Saturday. At the same time, Simranjeet Kaur remains in contention for another podium finish later in the tournament.

(with PTI inputs)