Mandaviya hails India's archery gold at Asian Games 2026
Synopsis
India's Women's Compound Archery team of Jyothi Surekha Vennam, Prithika Pradeep, and Taniparthi Chikitha claimed gold at the Asian Games 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya while equalling the World Record, earning praise from Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya.
Key Takeaways
Jyothi Surekha Vennam , Prithika Pradeep , and Taniparthi Chikitha won Women's Compound Team gold at the Asian Games 2026 .
The trio equalled the World Record in the event, held in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan .
Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya congratulated the archers on 30 September 2026 , calling it a 'masterclass of precision and skill.' India's compound archery programme has received structured support under the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) since 2014 .
India has consistently grown its medal tally in precision sports at Asian Games editions since 2010 .
Individual and mixed-team archery events remain ahead at the 2026 Asian Games , offering further medal opportunities.
Three Indian women drew their bows, held their breath, and hit history — Jyothi Surekha Vennam, Prithika Pradeep, and Taniparthi Chikitha won the Women's Compound Team gold at the Asian Games 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, and did it while equalling the World Record. Union Labour and Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya was quick to celebrate the feat on Wednesday, 30 September 2026.
Mandaviya's post captured the moment with characteristic precision: 'Bullseye for Gold!' — before extending his 'heartiest congratulations' to the trio for a 'masterclass of precision and skill.' The world-record-equalling performance underscores just how far India's compound archery programme has travelled in a short span.
The trio that shot India into the record books
Jyothi Surekha Vennam is the anchor of this team in every sense — a seasoned campaigner with multiple international podiums across Asian Games and World Cup circuits who has carried Indian compound archery's ambitions on her shoulders for years. Alongside her, Prithika Pradeep and Taniparthi Chikitha completed a formidable unit whose collective composure under pressure produced a world-record-equalling score. Three arrows, three archers, one unmistakable statement.
Compound archery's quiet rise under TOPS
India's precision-sports surge at Asian Games editions since 2010 has been anything but accidental. The Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS), launched in 2014 and significantly expanded after the 2018 Asian Games, channelled structured funding and high-performance coaching into compound archery — a discipline that rewards obsessive technical refinement. The Sports Authority of India has tracked the programme's growth closely, and this gold at Aichi-Nagoya is the most emphatic dividend yet.
What the gold means beyond the podium
Compound archery still sits outside the Olympic programme, but Asian Games gold — especially a world-record effort — carries enormous weight for athlete rankings, funding cycles, and the case for the sport's eventual Olympic inclusion. For Vennam, Pradeep, and Chikitha, the timing is also critical: individual and mixed-team events remain ahead at these Games, and form like this is a signal to every rival contingent that India is not done shooting.
The arrow has left the bow. India's archers are pointing at something bigger still.
Point of View
The result is a political and administrative win: it reinforces the narrative that structured state support, not just individual talent, drives podium finishes. The achievement also arrives at a moment when Indian sports policy is increasingly measured by international rankings and record-breaking performances, making Aichi-Nagoya a convenient data point in that larger argument. With individual events still to come, the broader question is whether this team form translates into individual medals that could sharpen the case for Olympic inclusion of compound archery.
NationPress
30 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who are Jyothi Surekha Vennam, Prithika Pradeep, and Taniparthi Chikitha?
They are Indian compound archers who together won the Women's Compound Team gold at the Asian Games 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, equalling the World Record in the process. Jyothi Surekha Vennam is a veteran of multiple international archery circuits.
What is the Asian Games 2026 and where is it being held?
The Asian Games 2026 is the 20th edition of the continental multi-sport event, hosted in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, and features over 40 disciplines including archery.
What world record did India's Women's Compound Archery team equal?
India's Women's Compound Team of Vennam, Pradeep, and Chikitha equalled the World Record during their gold-medal run at the Asian Games 2026. Specific scores from the event are yet to be officially confirmed in detail.
What is the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) and how does it support Indian archery?
TOPS is a government initiative launched in 2014 and expanded after the 2018 Asian Games that provides structured funding, coaching, and competitive exposure to elite Indian athletes, including compound archers.
Is compound archery part of the Olympic Games?
No, compound archery is currently not part of the Olympic programme, though it is a core discipline at the Asian Games and World Archery Championship circuits. India's recent performances strengthen advocacy for its future Olympic inclusion.
