How all-weather training helped Indian archers win 3 composite golds at the Asian Games

India swept all three gold medals in compound archery at the 2026 Asian Games on Wednesday, but a clean draw was months in the making. From training in the cold and rain of Himachal Pradesh to battling intense heat in Sonipat and strong winds in Kurobe City, Japan, Indian archers prepared for every challenge that came their way in Nagoya.

The coaching staff also used match simulations to replicate pressure situations and ensure the archers were prepared for the decisive moments. Careful preparation paid off as India achieved a historic gold medal in the combined events.

Sahil Rajesh Jadhav was at the heart of India’s success, winning two gold medals on a memorable day for Indian archery. The 25-year-old from Satara, Maharashtra first teamed up with Chikitha Taniparthi to win the mixed team title before joining Kushal Dalal and Ganesh Mani Ratnam Thirumuru in the men’s team event.

The Indian men’s team beat China 238-237 in a tight final, shortly after Sahil and Chikitha beat South Korea in a shootout to win the mixed team title.

earlier in the day Jyothi Surekha Vennam, Chikitha Taniparthi and Prithika Pradeep beat China 238-234 in women’s team finals. Their score equaled the world record.

India’s unprecedented success was due to the careful planning of the coaching staff at SAI’s National Centers of Excellence in Kolkata and Sonipat. Emphasis was placed not only on technique, but also on the preparation of shooters for various weather conditions and pressure situations.

Sahil’s coach Haresh Kumar spoke about the different conditions in which the archers trained during the preparations for the Asian Games.

“We trained in all weathers. We trained in Shillar, Himachal Pradesh where we trained in cold and rainy conditions. Then we trained in SAI, Sonipat where it was extremely hot,” Haresh told SAI Media.

The archers then traveled to Japan about 10-15 days before the Asian Games and continued their preparations in Kurobe City, where they had to deal with strong winds.

“We reached Japan around 10-15 days before the Asian Games and trained in extremely windy conditions. It was all due to Sahil’s efforts that he was able to translate his hard work into a gold medal,” said Haresh.

The preparation was also about making the archers ready for the pressure of the competition. The simulation training at SAI Sonipat helped them recreate match situations and work on the tactics needed for key competitions.

This preparation was tested in the mixed team finals. Sahil and Chikitha held their nerve in the shootout against South Korea to secure the gold medal.

For Sahil, the double gold was reward for months of hard work, but the 25-year-old was already looking forward to his next challenge.

“That’s fine. I am happy to have won two gold medals in the Asian Games and made the country and my parents proud. But there is still a lot to achieve,” Sahil told SAI Media in a video call.

The win also earned Sahil an Olympic quota for India in the mixed event for the 2028 Los Angeles Games.

“I am happy that I could give my best performance today and also get the quota for the next Olympics,” he said.

Sahil, who trains at SAI NCOE in Kolkata, said he was confident of a strong performance when he traveled to Japan for the Asian Games.

“Every athlete aims to win gold, to give their best performance. I was confident that I had the ability to win gold. That’s why I worked hard during the last few months. I knew I could produce something special,” he said.

Haresh was pleased with how Sahil carried out the plans they had worked on in training. “I am happy with all his shots as Sahil was able to perfectly execute all the tactics we practiced before the Asian Games. As a coach, I am extremely proud of Sahil,” he said.

“Sahil worked hard during training. That’s why he was able to convert his sweat and hard work into gold medals.”

The three gold medals in Nagoya were the result of a preparation program that took Indian archers through various weather conditions and stressful situations before they arrived at the Asian Games.

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