The spotlight is firmly on world champion compound archer Jyothi Surekha Vennam as the sports ministry's selection committee meets in New Delhi on Wednesday to deliberate on the prestigious Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna and Arjuna Awards. For the 29-year-old ace, ranked World No. 2 and Asia No. 1, this represents a crucial third chance at the nation's highest sporting honour after being surprisingly overlooked in previous years.
A Stellar Record Overshadowed by Snubs
Hailing from Challapalli in Andhra Pradesh's Krishna district, Jyothi has been the dominant force in Indian women's archery. Her trophy cabinet is a testament to her consistency, having won medals in every international championship she has contested. She has represented India in a staggering 26 national and 77 international tournaments, clinching 62 national and 90 international medals.
Despite her unparalleled achievements, the Khel Ratna has eluded her. As per the ministry's own point-based criteria, she logged the highest scores among applicants for three consecutive years: 148.25 points in 2023, 132.12 in 2024, and 148.37 in 2025. Yet, selection committees in the past chose other sportspersons, often based on popularity rather than the official metrics. This repeated omission forced Jyothi to seek legal recourse. Earlier this year, the Andhra Pradesh High Court directed the ministry to reconsider her applications for the 2023 and 2024 awards.
"I felt very bad when my name wasn't recommended for the Khel Ratna," Jyothi had told TOI earlier. "I was left with no other option but to approach the court." She received the Arjuna Award back in 2017.
India's Prime Olympic Prospect for LA 2028
Jyothi's quest for recognition gains added significance with compound archery's inclusion in the Summer Games programme for Los Angeles 2028. Given her current form and dominance, she has emerged as India's strongest medal prospect in the discipline for the upcoming Olympics. Her recent performances solidify this claim.
Her roll of honour is exceptional: she is the only archer globally to have won 9 medals at the World Championships and the first Indian archer to achieve a hat-trick of gold medals at the Asian Games (2023). She holds the world record in the mixed team event with a score of 1431/1440. Furthermore, she is the first compound woman archer to shoot a perfect score of 360 and the first compound archer to win a hat-trick of gold at the World Cup Stage 1 in 2024.
Strong Competition in the Awards Fray
While Jyothi is a frontrunner, the Khel Ratna field is competitive. Sources indicate that India's World Cup-winning women's cricket captain Harmanpreet Kaur is also a leading contender for the top honour. Her deputy, Smriti Mandhana, is another strong candidate under consideration.
For the Arjuna Award, chess prodigy Divya Deshmukh is reportedly in the running. She made history earlier this year by becoming the first Indian woman to win the FIDE Women's World Cup.
The committee's decision on Wednesday will not only validate years of relentless effort but also set a precedent for how sporting excellence is measured and rewarded in the country. For Jyothi Surekha Vennam, it is a moment of truth that has been a long time coming.
