What Makes Jyothi Surekha Feel 'Very Proud' After Winning Gold in the Mixed Compound Event?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Jyothi Surekha and Rishab Yadav led India to a gold medal in mixed compound archery.
- The competition was held in Gwangju, South Korea.
- Weather conditions added to the excitement of the matches.
- Strong support from coaches and government has bolstered Indian archery.
- Jyothi aspires to compete in the Olympics.
New Delhi, Sep 11 (NationPress) Indian archers are glowing with pride following a historic performance at the World Archery Championships 2025 in Gwangju, South Korea. Arjuna Awardee V. Jyothi Surekha described the occasion as a "very proud moment" as she and Rishab Yadav led the mixed compound team into the gold medal match against the Netherlands.
Jyothi reflected on the conditions that made the victory even more significant. “The experience was exceptional. I truly enjoyed the shooting. The weather fluctuated - it was extremely hot, and then rain fell during our final matches. That added to the excitement. This is my first gold medal for India, and I feel incredibly proud.”
Rishab shared similar feelings, attributing the team's perseverance through challenging moments. “We faced many tough matches early on. At one point, we all felt that luck wasn’t on our side. However, we gave it our maximum effort, and ultimately, we secured the gold medal. We maintained a strong mindset and a clear objective. Once we learned we would be heading to the Olympics, we began serious preparations. Our outlook is very positive.”
India’s advancements in compound archery were further emphasized as the men’s team of Rishab Yadav, Aman Saini, and Prathamesh Fuge progressed to the finals against France. Both the women’s and men’s compound archers reached the quarterfinals, showcasing the strength of the campaign.
Both archers credited the world-class mentorship of coaches Jiwanjot Singh Teja and Surender Singh, along with government and institutional support. “Our Prime Minister envisions India among the top 10 nations at the Olympics, and we are confident we will realize this goal. The initiatives and backing from the Sports Authority of India provide significant advantages for young athletes. Sports in India is rapidly advancing,” Jyothi noted.
Looking ahead, Jyothi shared her personal aspirations and her respect for pioneer Deepika Kumari. “She is among the world’s best archers. While I have medals from numerous events, the Olympics are still an unaccomplished milestone for me. I hope to compete and win a medal for India.”