Athletes representing Andhra Pradesh have delivered a stellar performance at the
The standout performances arrived on Wednesday, September 30, 2026, as Indian archers secured a clean sweep of the compound team events at Okazaki City. Among the gold medallists were
Archery Dominance and Badminton Success
Jyothi Surekha, teaming up with Chikitha Taniparthi and Prithika Pradeep, secured gold in the women’s compound team event by defeating China with a score of 238-234. This victory was particularly notable as the trio equalled the world record. For Jyothi, the win marks her sixth medal across four consecutive Asian Games, a collection that now includes four golds, one silver, and one bronze. Her father, Surendra Kumar, noted that her long-standing experience and early background in competitive swimming have been instrumental in her sustained success.
In the men’s compound team competition, Ganesh Mani Ratnam, hailing from Naidupeta in the Tirupati district, joined forces with Kushal Dalal and Sahil Jadhav. The trio edged out China 238-237 in a tightly contested final, following a hard-fought victory over South Korea in the semi-finals. The success of the state's archers has been lauded by political leaders, including President Droupadi Murmu, who praised the team's precision and composure, and Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, who highlighted Ganesh’s journey as a testament to hard work.
Beyond the archery range, the state’s athletes have also made their mark in team sports. The Indian men’s badminton team, featuring Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Kidambi Srikanth, secured a bronze medal after a 3-1 semi-final loss to China in Ichinomiya. Additionally, cricketer Sree Charani has contributed to the medal haul, further bolstering the state’s representation in the multi-sport event.
A Hub for Sporting Excellence
The consistent success of Andhra Pradesh’s archers is often linked to the training environment provided by institutions such as the Volga Archery Academy in Vijayawada. Cherukuri Satyanarayana, who oversees the academy and serves as the Vice-President of the Archery Association of India, credits the athletes' achievements to a rigorous focus on discipline, timing, and concentration.
The state’s influence at the Games extends to other disciplines as well, with athletes like Dhiraj Bommadevara making headlines by setting an Asian Games record of 698 in the recurve ranking round. As the competition progresses, the nine athletes from Andhra Pradesh—including hurdler Jyothi Yarraji and badminton player Kavipriya Selvam—continue to be key figures in India’s campaign at the 2026 Asian Games.
