NEW DELHI: The Indian women’s compound archery team, consisting of Jyothi Surekha Vennam, Parneet Kaur, and Aditi Swami, has continued their impressive winning streak by securing their third consecutive gold medal at the Archery World Cup stage two event. The trio dominated their match against Turkey’s team, comprising Hazal Burun, Ayse Bera Suzer, and Begum Yuva, with a final score of 232-226.
Ranked number one in the world, the Indian team demonstrated their superior skills and consistent performance from the onset. They maintained a steady six-point lead throughout the final, leaving no room for Turkey to catch up. This victory adds to their gold medals from the World Cup Stage 1 in Shanghai and Stage 4 in Paris last year, solidifying their status as the top team in women’s compound archery.
In addition to their team success, India also achieved a silver medal in the compound mixed team event. Jyothi Surekha Vennam paired with Priyansh Jain to compete against the USA’s Olivia Dean and Sawyer Sullivan. Despite starting strong and taking an early lead, the Indian duo ultimately lost by two points, finishing with a score of 155-153. The match began on a promising note, with Jyothi and Priyansh scoring a near-perfect 39 out of 40 in the first end, but consistency issues in subsequent rounds allowed the USA team to overtake them.
On the individual front, Prathamesh Fuge came close to winning a bronze medal but was narrowly defeated by world number one Mike Schlosser of the Netherlands in a shoot-off. Fuge had earlier caused an upset by defeating world number six Nico Wiener of Austria in the quarterfinals. Despite rallying from a two-point deficit to force a tiebreaker, Fuge lost in the shoot-off, missing out on his first World Cup individual medal.
Fuge also competed in the men’s individual semifinal, where he faced world number seven James Lutz of the USA. Despite a strong effort, Fuge was defeated with a score of 143-148. His performances, though not resulting in medals, showcased his potential and competitiveness at the highest level.
Overall, the Indian archery team continues to make significant strides on the world stage, with their women’s compound team leading the charge with remarkable consistency and skill. Their achievements at the Archery World Cup 2024 are a testament to their dedication and excellence in the sport. As they prepare for future competitions, the Indian archers will aim to build on their successes and continue their dominance in international archery.
