India’s dominance in archery continued as Asian Games champion Jyothi Surekha Vennam clinched a remarkable hat-trick of gold medals in the inaugural leg of the Archery World Cup held in Shanghai on Saturday.
Ranked third globally, Jyothi sealed her triumph by edging past top-seeded Andrea Becerra of Mexico in a thrilling shoot-off, with both athletes scoring 146-146 (9*-9). This victory mirrored her exceptional performance at the Hangzhou Asian Games last year, where she also secured three gold medals across individual, women’s team, and mixed team events.
India showcased its prowess in non-Olympic compound archery, sweeping all team events and securing a hat-trick of gold medals. Jyoti played a pivotal role in two of these victories.
Teaming up with Aditi Swamy and Praneet Kaur, Jyothi led the Indian women’s compound team to a resounding victory over Italy, with a dominant scoreline of 236-225. The trio displayed exceptional precision, conceding only four points in 24 arrows.
In the men’s team event, Abhishek Verma, Priyansh, and Prathamesh F secured another gold for India by defeating the Netherlands with a score of 238-231.
Continuing their winning streak, India’s mixed team, comprising Jyothi and Abhishek, clinched the third gold medal in the compound event. The duo emerged victorious in a thrilling encounter against Liesel Jatma and Robin Jatma of Estonia, triumphing with a narrow margin of 158-157.
Jyothi’s stellar performance extended to the individual competition, where she emerged as the champion. Despite initial challenges, she showcased resilience and skill, ultimately securing the gold medal with a total score of 146 points, narrowly edging out Andrea in the shoot-off.
Jyothi’s exceptional accuracy and her nerve-wracking performance earned her the distinction of India’s third gold medalist in the prestigious tournament. Jyothi’s performance bodes well for India ahead of the Paris Olympics where one can expect her to bring home a medal.
