Indian archers delivered an outstanding performance at the Asian Archery Championships on Thursday, securing two gold medals and one silver medal in the compound archery events. The remarkable achievement saw the women's team and mixed team claim top honors while the men's team settled for a closely fought silver medal.
Women's Team Clinches Gold in Thrilling Final
The Indian women's compound archery team comprising Jyothi Surekha Vennam, Deepshikha, and Prithika Pradeep demonstrated exceptional skill and precision to defeat the strong Korean team in a nail-biting final. The Indian trio emerged victorious with a final score of 236-234 against the Korean team of Park Yerin, Oh Yoohyun, and Jungyoon Park.
What made their victory particularly impressive was their near-perfect shooting in the final stages of the match. The team displayed remarkable consistency with scores of 59 and 58 in their closing ends. Their exceptional performance included a stunning 59-point end featuring scores of 10, 10, 10, 10, 9, 10 followed by another strong 58-point end with 10, 10, 10, 9, 10, 9.
Mixed Team Secures Second Gold for India
India continued its golden run in the mixed team compound archery event where the duo of Abhishek Verma and Deepshikha combined forces to overcome Bangladesh with a final score of 153-151. The Indian pair maintained extraordinary composure under pressure throughout the match.
The mixed team showcased remarkable consistency with both archers delivering identical 38-point ends in their performance. Their steady rhythm and coordinated effort proved decisive in securing India's second gold medal of the championships. The consistent scoring pattern of 10, 9, 10, 9 and 9, 10, 9, 10 demonstrated their technical excellence and mental fortitude.
Men's Team Narrowly Misses Gold
The Indian men's compound archery team put up a valiant effort but narrowly missed the gold medal, settling for silver after a closely contested final against Kazakhstan. The team consisting of Abhishek Verma, Sahil Rajesh Jadhav, and Prathamesh Bhalchandra Fuge fought hard but ultimately fell short by a single point, finishing with a score of 229-230.
The Kazakh team of Dilmukhamet Mussa, Bunyod Mirzametov, and Andrey Tyutyun managed to edge past the Indian archers in what turned out to be one of the most exciting matches of the championship. Despite the narrow loss, the Indian men's team displayed excellent sportsmanship and competitive spirit throughout the tournament.
Historic Achievement for Indian Archery
This outstanding performance at the Asian Archery Championships marks a significant milestone for Indian compound archery. The two gold medals and one silver medal demonstrate the growing strength and depth of Indian talent in international archery competitions.
The consistent performances across all team events highlight the effective training programs and development initiatives undertaken by the Archery Association of India. These results are particularly encouraging as they come against strong Asian competitors including traditional powerhouses like Korea and emerging forces like Kazakhstan.
The success at the Asian Archery Championships provides a major boost to Indian archery and sets a positive tone for future international competitions. With several young archers showing promise and experienced players maintaining their form, the future looks bright for Indian compound archery on the global stage.
