Archery World Cup: Jyothi Surekha Vennam’s sensational week in Turkey ends with a long-awaited gold

It all started with a world record-equalling qualification score and ended with the Indian national anthem playing as she stood atop the podium.

Apr 24, 2023 - 10:30

Archery World Cup: Jyothi Surekha Vennam’s sensational week in Turkey ends with a long-awaited gold

Immediately after winning the compound individual gold medal at the Archery World Cup Stage One in Antalya, Jyothi Surekha Vennam said in the official interview that she was short of words. What she wasn’t short of the last week in Turkey, was quality. And 10s. Oh, there were 10s.

After a stunning week for India’s top compound archer, the highs were many. At the very start of the tournament, in the qualification round, she shot a World Record-equalling 713 out of 720 points. In that stunning score of 713 to equal Sara Lopez’s record, she shot an even more incredible 360 out of 360 in the second half.

“It felt really good to score 713 in qualification,” Jyothi told Scroll from Turkey.

“After 353 in the first half, to shoot a perfect 360 in the second was even more special. It is not something I have even managed to do in competition, so to do that at a World Cup stage directly was really special.”

“Yeah, I spoke to Sara,” she added. “She congratulated me after the 360.”

That was only the start.

From there, she went on to win gold medal in the mixed team event with Ojas Pravin Deotale. And saving perhaps the best for last, she...