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The Indian team included Deepika Kumari, Ankita Bhakat, and 17-year-old Kumkum Mohod, who held their nerves to lead India to glory in a tightly contested final. India took the opening set before China fought back to level the contest and force a shoot-off after the four-set regulation ended in a tie. In the deciding set, the Indian trio prevailed 5-4 (28-26). The win will go down as one of the best in recurve archery, given the quality of opposition and the pressure of playing China on home soil. The Indian team had stunned South Korea in the semifinal to qualify for the summit clash. The gold medal match was a high-scoring game, with both teams fighting tooth and nail. The Indian team was very consistent and rarely dropped below the nine-ring. China, however, faltered at times under pressure, and it cost them the gold medal.

Deepika Kumari, being the senior-most member of the team, anchored the win, delivering crucial hits under pressure and providing stability during the match. She was well supported by Ankita Bhakat and Kumkum, who showed remarkable composure for her age, maintaining rhythm in a high-octane clash. India edged ahead of China in the final phase, where they dropped fewer points. The fact that the team was able to hold its nerves and show maturity in the critical phase makes this win more special, as it was something that was questioned in the past.

The Road To Glory Meanwhile, India had a terrific tournament. In the round of 16, they defeated Uzbekistan 6-2, a win that induced confidence in the young team. The quarterfinal against Vietnam was a tough game and went down to the wire, but India held its nerves, winning 28-25 in the decider. Not many expected India to beat South Korea, a force to reckon with, in the semifinal, but the Indian team punched above their weight. Scores of 58-55 and 58-56 in the opening and closing sets showed that India team could maintain high scoring levels against elite opposition. The semifinal win over South Korea put India on par with China as favourites to win the title. Earlier, Deepika Kumari led a historic run at the Paris World Cup Stage 3 in 2021, winning three gold medals across individual, team, and mixed team events. India had also won a gold medal at the Guatemala City World Cup Stage 1 the same year. But the recent years were not great for India as podium finishes became rare, making the Shanghai gold a special achievement for the Indian team.