India’s Chikitha Taniparthi etched her name in history by winning the Under-21 women’s compound crown at the World Archery Youth Championships 2025 in Winnipeg, Canada, on Saturday.
It was India’s first-ever archery gold medal in this category at the Youth World Championships.
The 20-year-old Indian archer was in imperious form throughout the knockout stages.
She eased past Spain’s Paula Diaz Morillas 142-133 in the semi-finals before holding her nerve in the gold medal clash against Park Yerin of the Republic of Korea, prevailing 142-136.
In the quarter-finals, she had defeated compatriot and 2023 senior Asian champion Parneet Kaur 146-143.
India also produced a strong showing in the U18 compound events. In an all-Indian women’s semi-final, Prithika Pradeep edged out Surya Hamsini Madala 130-128, before going down narrowly 143-140 to the USA’s O’Donohue Savannah in the final to settle for silver.
Surya missed out on the podium after losing the bronze playoff 139-127 to the Netherlands’ Fenna Stallen.
Aditi Swami won the women’s U18 crown in the previous edition held in Limerick, Ireland, two years ago. Now 19, Aditi Swami did not compete in the 2025 edition in the U21 division.