The Indian men's recurve team produced its most stirring performance in recent memory to stun heavyweights South Korea in a nerve-wracking shoot-off to clinch its first Asian Archery Championships gold in 18 years, in Dhaka, on Friday.
The trio of Yashdeep Bhoge, Atanu Das and Rahul rallied from 2-4 down to script a dramatic 5-4 victory over a Korean second-string side comprising Seo Mingi, Kim Yechan and Jang Jiho, breaking Korea's stranglehold on the event since 2009.
Both teams shot 29 in the shoot-off, but India were declared winners after Das -- the two-time Olympian who had exited early in the individual event -- delivered an assured 10 that finished closer to the centre than Korea's, sealing India's first Asian Championship men's team gold since 2007.
The result swelled India's tally at the championships to four gold and two silver, with the compound squad having already returned a haul of three gold and two silver on Thursday.
India's compound archers have have had a stellar run with Jyothi Surekha Vennam completing a memorable double by winning both the team and individual gold.
It was a deeply emotional moment for recurve men's team coach Rahul Banerjee, a member of that champion 2007 team alongside Mangal Singh Champia and Jayanta Talukdar.
Eighteen years after winning the title as an athlete, the 2010 Commonwealth Games gold-medallist anchored a second triumph, this time with his long-time protege Atanu and his wife Deepika Kumari in the squad.
Atanu, who topped national trials to earn selection and make Banerjee the men's team coach, fittingly hit the decisive arrow.
Didn't choke, finally fulfilled: Rahul
"It's really fulfilling as a coach as we defeated Korea and didn't choke. Atanu and I were discussing last night that we have not won a gold for a long time and it's finally fulfilled. The next target is Asian Games definitely," Banerjee told PTI from Dhaka.
Korea may have arrived without their legendary Olympic champion Kim Woojin, but the side still featured quality talent.
Seo Mingi topped national trials, Kim Yechan is a 20-year-old Chengdu University Games gold-medallist, and Jang Jiho rounded out a promising trio.
Banerjee was quick to underline that pedigree.
"They are not their top-three archers but after the World Championships they had the trial for Asians and these were picked. As far as my knowledge is concerned, they are their top four, five, six archers.
"In terms of quality, the Koreans are Koreans -- the difference among their top five is minimal," he pointed out.
The final had its share of ups and downs. Korea began with 56 in the first set after an 8, with India matching them arrow for arrow.
The second set too ended 56-all despite India drifting into the red 7-point ring once.
At 2-2, Korea broke away with a sharp 57, while India faltered badly with four 8s and just one 10 to slump to 2-4.
But India mounted a superb response in the fourth set, opening with back-to-back 10s and closing out a composed 57-53 win to level the match 4-4 and force the shoot-off that yielded their most significant men's recurve victory in nearly two decades.
The women's team, mixed team and Jyothi in the individual category accounted for the yellow metal, while the men's team settled for silver and 17-year-old Prithika Pradeep claimed a silver.
India are also in line for more medals when individual recurve resumes in the second session, with Deepika Kumari, Ankita Bhakat and rookie Sangeeta reaching the women's semifinals. Dhiraj Bommadevara and Rahul are through to the last four in the men's draw.
Ankita, Dhiraj win gold in recurve events
Ankita Bhakat capped a sensational day, stunning Paris Olympics silver-medallist Nam Suhyeon of South Korea 7-3 while Dhiraj Bommadevara also won his final as India clinched gold medals in both men's and women's event at the Asian Archery Championship.
Dhiraj defeated compatriot Rahul 6-2 in the final to make it a 1-2 for India.
Ankita had earlier knocked out her longtime senior teammate, former world No. 1 Deepika, in the semifinals. Locked at 5-5, both archers shot a nine in the shoot-off, but Ankita's arrow was closer to the centre, sending her into the title clash.
Ankita began the final in commanding fashion, firing two 10s to take the opening set 29-27. The second set ended in a scrappy 27-27 draw as both archers faltered. Ankita slipped to an 8 while Nam dropped to a 7.
Nam levelled the match by claiming the third set 28-26, with Ankita unable to find a single 10. But the Indian hit back brilliantly in the fourth, nailing two 10s in a superb 29-28 effort to lead 5-3.
Showing steely composure in the decider, Ankita once again delivered two 10s to clinch the gold, completing a breakthrough triumph against one of Asia's most consistent performers.
India also secured the women's recurve bronze after Sangeeta edged out veteran five-time Olympian Deepika Kumari 6-5 in a dramatic shoot-off.
Indian contingent ended its campaign with 10 medals --- six gold, three silver and one bronze medal to top the standings.
In the men's final, having lost the first set, Dhiraj was near flawless to knock out 33 year-old veteran Jang Chaehwan 6-2 to enter the final.
The Indian lost the first set by one point, but came back strongly with three 10s and take the second set and bring it 2-2 level. He continued his menacing form with two successive 10s and one 9 to take the third set 29-27 and make it 4-2. He drilled in another hat-trick of 10s to seal the win.