Reigning double World Archery Champion Aditi Gopichand Swami qualified in pole position at the Bangkok 2023 Asian Archery Championships on Monday.
The Indian and Korean compound teams were locked in a tight battle to qualify first.
The 17-year-old Swami became the youngest champion in the modern era in August at the Berlin 2023 Hyundai World Archery Championships.
She shot a 706 in Bangkok, finishing a full six points clear of the second placed woman, So Chaewon of Korea.
It’s already been a remarkable year for the Indian teenager, who also became double youth world champion this year after winning individual and team gold at the 2023 World Archery Youth Championships in Limerick, meaning she is currently both youth and senior world champion in individual and team.
Swami has spearheaded an Indian compound renaissance, leading to an avalanche of gold at the Hangzhou 2022 Asian Games where India won all five compound titles available – and pushing Korea into second place on four of those podiums.
That battle seems set to continue here at the Asian Championships.
The Indian compound women’s team finished top of qualifying with 2105, with Korea in second on 2071.
On the men’s side, Korea finished top with 2128, just edging out India by a single point with 2127.
The top men’s individual qualifier was Korea’s Yang Jaewon with 711, just edging out Priyansh of India with 710. Yang took an individual bronze at the Asian Games in September, and will be looking for better than that in Bangkok.
All the top eight men in qualifying were from Korea or India. Both sides are coached by experienced foreign internationals – Sergio Pagni behind India and Reo Wilde coaching Korea’s compounds.
Much national pride is at stake – and perhaps, the future direction of the discipline in Asia.
The compound competition in Bangkok continues with individual last-16 matches and mixed team eliminations tomorrow.
Top seeds: 2023 Asian Archery Championships
- Compound men: Yang Jaewon, Korea – 711
- Compound women: Aditi Gopichand Swami, India – 706
