Indian Women's Compound Archery Team Wins Historic Gold At WC

In a historic victory, the Indian women's compound archery team consisting of Jyothi Surekha Vennam, Aditi Swami, and Parneet Kaur clinched a gold medal at the World Archery Championships. The Indian trio exhibited exceptional skill and determination, defeating Mexico in a thrilling final match held today.

The match was intense and closely contested, but the Indian archers showcased their prowess by securing a decisive 235-229 victory over their Mexican counterparts. 

Indian Women's Compound Archery Team Wins Gold 

This victory marks India's first-ever gold medal in any category of the World Archery Championships since its inception, a momentous achievement that brought immense pride to the nation.

The triumph in Yankton 2023 also holds significance as it signifies India's first gold medal in archery since the country's debut at the World Championships in Punta Ala (Italy) back in 1981. The achievement reflects the incredible progress and growth of Indian archery over the years.

Expressing her elation, Jyothi Surekha Vennam, the 27-year-old archer, stated, "It is a wonderful feeling. We are delighted to win the country's first-ever gold. Hope we can continue to win more gold medals. We just focused on our shooting, and we were confident that we would win."

The victory was the result of meticulous planning and determination. Sanjeeva Singh, the National High-Performance Director, expressed his excitement, calling it a historic moment for Indian archery. 

He emphasised that defeating two compound archery powerhouses in the final would have a profound impact on the sport's popularity and growth in the country. 

Furthermore, Singh mentioned the possibility of compound archery being introduced in the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics, which could bring even greater recognition to the sport and its athletes.

Jyothi Surekha Vennam, who has been a part of all four medal-winning teams in the women's compound section at the World Championships (silver in 2017 and 2021, bronze in 2019), finally attained her dream of winning gold after narrowly missing out on previous occasions.

The team's journey to the gold medal was not an easy one

In the semifinals, they defeated Colombia with a score of 220-216, and in the quarterfinals, they triumphed over Chinese Taipei with a close score of 228-226. However, it was the final match against Mexico where they truly displayed their dominance. Throughout the final match, the Indian team showed exceptional accuracy and composure. 

They took an early lead, scoring 59 points out of a possible 60 in the first three rounds, establishing a strong 177-172 advantage. As the match progressed, they maintained their lead, finishing with a crucial 58-point round to secure their well-deserved gold medal.

The victory not only marks a significant milestone for Indian archery but also highlights the immense talent and potential of the women's compound team. In addition to the team's remarkable achievement, individual accolades are also within reach for the Indian archers. 

Both Jyothi and Parneet have advanced to the quarterfinals, setting the stage for an exciting all-Indian clash between the two talented archers. 

Aditi Swami will also be competing in the quarterfinals against Sanne De Laat of the Netherlands, presenting another opportunity for India to shine on the global archery stage.

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