The Indian men’s and women’s compound archery teams finished top of the podium at the Archery World Cup 2023 stage 4 in Paris, France.
In the men’s compound category, Ojas Pravin Deotale, Prathamesh Jawkar, and Abhishek Verma secured gold by defeating the USA with a score of 236-232 in a thrilling final.
With both countries locked at 176-176, India upped their ante and produced a perfect 60, whereas the USA could only manage 56.
MORE: Bet on the Archery World Cup from India here
Similarly, the women’s trio, consisting of Aditi Gopichand Swami, Jyothi Surekha Vennam, and Parneet Kaur, clinched gold by triumphing over Mexico with a narrow score of 234-233.
During the competition, the Indian men’s compound team finished fourth in the qualifying round with a total of 2127 points. They proceeded to overcome Italy and Mexico in the pre-quarterfinals and quarter-finals, respectively. The team's victory over the top-seeded Republic of Korea in the semi-finals secured their place in the gold medal match.
What did Abhishek Verma say after winning gold?
“Last year I also got a gold medal here, so I’m happy,” said Verma, referring to his compound mixed team triumph alongside Vennam in 2022.
“This is my fourth time receiving a gold medal in the men’s team and the team is pretty strong.”
“Now we can see that the whole of the world is [getting better] so you cannot really predict who will win. It’s just a margin, a single-point game now.”
Meanwhile, the Indian women’s compound team, fresh from their World Championship triumph, showcased dominance from the beginning, topping the qualifying round with a score of 2113.
Following a bye in the first round, the trio defeated Estonia and Great Britain in the quarter-finals and semi-finals, respectively, to secure a spot in the final.
MORE: World Athletics Championships: Where to watch & schedule of Indian athletes
It was neck-and-neck throughout the finale, but before heading into the deciding end, India were trailing by a point to Mexico. However, they maintained their composure and shot 59 to seal victory by a single point.
The trio of Jyothi Surekha Vennam, Aditi Gopichand Swami, and Parneet Kaur had previously made history by winning India’s first-ever women's compound team gold at the Archery World Championships in Berlin, Germany.
What did Jyothi Surekha Vennam say after winning Gold?
“This is the second time we’ve won gold as a team, and we feel amazing," she said.
“Winning back-to-back medals for the country gives us a lot of confidence because we also have a major tournament – the Asian Games – coming up, so it is a big boost for us. It also motivates us to practice even harder.”
MORE: World Athletics Championships: Where to watch & schedule of Indian athletes
How did India perform in the Archery World Cup 2023 stage 4?
In the individual events, Jyothi Surekha Vennam won bronze in the women’s compound category after a shootout victory against former world champion Sara Lopez. The Indian contingent’s performance resulted in a total of five medals for India at the Paris meet, including bronze medals won by the men’s and women’s recurve archery teams.
MORE: Archery World Cup stage 4, Paris: India bag two bronze medals