– Pratyusha Mukherjee, Aichi-Nagoya, Japan
Even as the Indian national anthem reverberated around the archery arena in Aichi-Nagoya, Sahil Rajesh Jadhav was already looking ahead to the next major challenge of his career — the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
The 25-year-old from Satara, Maharashtra, enjoyed a memorable day on Wednesday, winning two gold medals as India completed a clean sweep of all three compound archery titles at the Asian Games 2026.
Sahil’s double triumph also secured an Olympic quota place for India in the mixed compound event for the Los Angeles Games.
India’s compound men’s team of Sahil Rajesh Jadhav, Kushal Dalal and Ganesh Mani Ratnam Thirumuru defeated China 238-237 in a closely fought final to claim gold. Earlier, Sahil had partnered Chikitha Taniparthi to beat South Korea in a shoot-off and win the mixed team title.
India’s dominance was underlined by the women’s compound team of Jyothi Surekha Vennam, Chikitha Taniparthi and Prithika Pradeep, who defeated China 238-234 in the final. Their score also equalled the world record.
The unprecedented success was the result of meticulous planning by the coaching staff at the SAI National Centres of Excellence in Kolkata and Sonepat. Simulation-based training at Sonepat helped the archers prepare mentally for high-pressure situations, while all-weather training in India and an acclimatisation camp at Kurobe city in Japan helped them adapt to varying conditions.
Sahil’s coach, Haresh Kumar, highlighted the extensive preparation undertaken in the months leading up to the Asian Games.
“We have trained in all weather conditions. We trained at Shillaru in Himachal Pradesh, where we faced cold and rainy conditions. Then we trained at SAI Sonepat, where it was extremely hot. We reached Japan around 10-15 days before the Asian Games and trained in extremely windy conditions,” he said.
“All this preparation helped Sahil. It was his effort and hard work that enabled him to convert his preparation into gold medals.”
Despite his remarkable achievement, Sahil remained focused on the road ahead.
“It’s okay. I am happy that I won two Asian Games gold medals and made the country and my parents proud. But there is a lot more to achieve,” Sahil told SAI Media during a video call.
“I am happy that I was able to deliver my best performance today and also earned a quota for the next Olympics,” he added.
The archer, who trains at the SAI NCOE in Kolkata, said he travelled to Japan with confidence in his preparation.
“Every athlete aims to win the gold and put up his best performance. I was confident that I had the ability to win the gold. That is why I toiled hard during practice over the past several months. I knew I could produce something special,” Sahil said.
For Haresh Kumar, watching his ward deliver under pressure was a particularly proud moment.
“I am happy with all his shots. Sahil was able to perfectly execute all the tactics we had practised ahead of the Asian Games. As a coach, Sahil has made me extremely proud,” he said.
“Sahil had worked hard during practice. That is why he was able to convert his sweat and hard work into gold medals.”
With two Asian Games gold medals already secured and an Olympic quota place in the bag, Sahil now has his sights firmly set on Los Angeles 2028.
Image: SAI
