Chikitha Taniparthi wins two Asian Games archery golds after switch from karate

India’s Chikitha Taniparthi won two compound archery gold medals at her Asian Games debut in Nagoya, rewarding a sporting journey that began after her father encouraged her to switch from karate. The 21-year-old from Sultanpur village in Telangana’s Peddapalli district won the women’s team title with Jyothi Surekha Vennam and Prithika Pradeep. She later combined with Sahil Jadhav to win the mixed team gold.

Chikitha said her father, Srinvasa Rao, originally encouraged her to take up sport because he had not been able to play one himself. From sixth to eighth grade, she practised karate and earned her first black belt. Her interest in archery began after an uncle gave her a recurve bow during the Dussehra holiday.

She initially used it for fun, shooting at a target in her backyard. After seeing her potential, her father took a loan to buy improved equipment. She began training seriously in 2018 and was selected for a junior camp in 2021.

She later trained in Sonipat, where she had been based since 2022, and received support and guidance from decorated compound archer Abhishek Verma. The mixed team final against Korea went to a tense shoot-off, which India won. Chikitha said she used meditation and breathing exercises twice daily to stay calm and trusted the process of her training.

She also said she had struggled with her shooting aim during the past year after becoming world youth champion. She returned to form after winning two medals at the Asia Cup and working to regain her place in the first team. Before the Asian Games, she had won the world youth title and team silver at the World Cup in 2025 and 2026.

She said the two golds were especially meaningful after the difficulties she had faced.