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Kumkum Mohod’s Asian Games Gold Puts Olympics in Sight
Kumkum Mohod is a 17-year-old archer from Amravati, India.
At the 2026 Asian Games, she won two gold medals and one silver medal.
She won individual gold, helped India win women’s team gold, and earned mixed-team silver.
For one event, she used a bow that another archer had given her years earlier.
Her coach taught her to concentrate and trust her own skills.
Her parents worked hard to pay for her training and equipment.
People in her city are proud of her, but she wants to return to practice.
She and her coach hope she can keep improving and win an Olympic medal one day.
The 17-year-old archer from Amravati won women’s individual and team recurve gold at the 2026 Asian Games, plus mixed-team silver.
India’s women defeated South Korea in the team event, ending a three-decade Korean hold on Asian Games archery team gold, according to the article.
Mohod chose to compete with a second-hand bow given to her five years earlier by fellow state archer Gaurav Namdeo.
Her coach Praful Dange and parents Anil and Rupali supported her training, with her father investing savings and selling his business to fund her equipment and travel.
Mohod and her coach say the focus now is continued training and an Olympic medal; she has been promised an iPhone if she wins one.
- Who
- Kumkum Mohod, a 17-year-old archer from Amravati, and the Indian women’s recurve team.
- What
- Mohod won individual and team recurve gold and mixed-team silver at the 2026 Asian Games.
- Where
- The 2026 Asian Games; Mohod trains in Amravati, Maharashtra, India.
- When
- Earlier this month, at the 2026 Asian Games; the article does not specify exact dates.
- Why
- The article describes her competition results and the years of training and family and coaching support behind them.
Focus on future Olympic ambitions
Recognize the achievement already earned
How to respond to Asian Games success
Focus on future Olympic ambitions
Coach Praful Dange and Mohod’s family stress staying grounded and continuing to train, saying the Olympics remain the central goal.
Recognize the achievement already earned
Amravati residents and officials celebrated Mohod’s Asian Games medals and praised her victory over South Korea.
Public attention versus training
Focus on future Olympic ambitions
Mohod is eager to return to regular practice and says the training court is where she feels normal; her coach warns against distraction.
Recognize the achievement already earned
People in her city have welcomed and celebrated her achievement, with public tributes and a road rally.
Key facts
- Athlete
- Kumkum Mohod, age 17
- Hometown
- Amravati, Maharashtra
- Asian Games medals
- Two golds and one silver
- Gold events
- Women’s individual recurve and women’s team recurve
- Silver event
- Mixed-team recurve
- Coach
- Praful Dange
- Notable equipment
- She chose a second-hand bow given to her by Gaurav Namdeo five years earlier
- Olympic ambition
- Mohod and her coach are focused on the prospect of an Olympic medal
Quotes
Kumkum Mohod
Indian recurve archer and 2026 Asian Games gold medallist
“A bow doesn’t make an archer. An archer turns a bow into a gold medal.”
indianexpress.com
“I visualised defeating the Koreans every step for a year every day.”
indianexpress.com






