Indian Archery Team Clinches Gold at Asian Games with Stellar Performance
Jyothi Surekha Vennam Celebrates Team's Triumph
After securing a gold medal in the women's compound archery team event, Indian archery star Jyothi Surekha Vennam expressed her joy regarding the team's performance. She emphasized their focus on self-improvement and not dwelling on past mistakes during the final match.
The Indian trio, comprising Jyothi Surekha Vennam, Chikitha Taniparthi, and Prithika Pradeep, achieved a remarkable victory against China, winning 238-234 in the final at the Asian Games held in Japan on Wednesday. This victory marks India's seventh gold medal at the Games, contributing to a total of 53 medals, which includes 21 silvers and 25 bronzes.
The team matched South Korea's world record of 238 points, previously set in 2014. Jyothi, who now has four Asian Games golds, celebrated the achievement alongside Chikitha and Prithika, who earned their first gold medals at their debut Asian Games.
'Focus on the Next Shot': Jyothi Discusses Strategy
Jyothi noted that the weather conditions were favorable, and the team consistently encouraged one another to concentrate on their performance. "We reminded each other to give our best in every shot, and even if one shot didn't go as planned, we focused on the next one," she explained.
As a six-time Asian Games medalist, Jyothi mentioned that this was their first encounter with the Chinese team, and they chose to concentrate on their own game rather than their opponents. "We focused on our own performance and aimed to deliver our best," she added.
Support from the Sports Authority of India
Jyothi also acknowledged the vital support from the Sports Authority of India (SAI), which provided necessary equipment and training opportunities. "SAI's assistance was invaluable. Being part of the TOPS (Target Olympic Podium) scheme, I received excellent support for all our needs, ensuring we were well-prepared for the competition," she stated.
Looking ahead, Jyothi expressed her hopes for more archery medals for India in upcoming matches before celebrating their victory. "We have several matches lined up, and we will focus on winning more medals before we celebrate our success," she concluded.
Final Match Breakdown
In the gold medal match, China began with three nines, finishing the first rotation with 27 points, while the Indian team started strong with three tens, leading 30-27. China responded with two tens in the second rotation, but India maintained their lead with three tens, ending the second rotation at 60-57.
China managed to convert one of their earlier nines to a ten, bringing the score to 60-58 in favor of India. The third rotation saw China starting with a nine and two tens, while India kept their lead intact with scores of 10 from Prithika and Jyothi, leading 89-87.
At the halfway point, India was ahead 119-116, maintaining a perfect record of three tens in the first half. The second half began with China scoring three tens, but India held onto a two-point lead at 148-146. Despite China's efforts, they couldn't secure three perfect tens, allowing India to extend their lead to 178-175.
After a review upgraded one of China's nines to a ten, the score adjusted to 178-176. China faltered with a ten and two nines, while India's consistent performance with two tens from Prithika and Jyothi kept them ahead at 208-204. India ultimately sealed the victory with perfect tens to conclude the final.