Indian compound archer Jyothi Surekha Vennam, despite her impressive world record-equalling qualifying score in Antalya last month, could not replicate her success in the World Cup Stage 2 held in Shanghai. The competition proved to be challenging for Jyothi as she slumped to sixth place in the standings, managing 693 points in the women’s compound qualifiers.
In contrast, the Koreans, who had previously withdrawn from the Antalya meet, made a strong comeback and dominated the proceedings in Shanghai. Veteran Oh Yoohyun and 2017 World champion Song Yun Soo secured the top two spots, shooting 700 and 698 points, respectively, reaffirming their archery prowess.
Jyothi, who had a dream run in the Antalya Stage where she secured her maiden individual World Cup gold medal, received a first-round bye and found herself on a collision course with the Mexico World champion in the semi-finals. Despite her previous success, Jyothi faced tough competition and was unable to advance further in the tournament.
Among the other Indian archers, Aditi Swami and Avneet Kaur performed admirably, securing the 12th and 16th positions, respectively, in the women’s compound qualifiers. In the team event, the Indian women’s trio earned the third seeding, following behind Korea and Mexico.
In the men’s section, Ojas Deotale, who had a spectacular debut in the Antalya World Cup, winning a mixed team gold with Jyothi, struggled in Shanghai and finished in 17th place with 696 points. Rishabh Yadav and Prathamesh Jawkar were the next best Indian performers, securing the 25th and 33rd positions, respectively. Unfortunately, the Indian men’s team finished outside the top four, landing in fifth place behind Korea, Denmark, Turkey, and Mexico.
Despite the challenges faced by the Indian archers in the individual events, Jyothi and Ojas, being the top Indian finishers in the qualifications, will have the opportunity to compete together in the mixed team event. The duo secured a sixth-place seeding, which means they will avoid facing the top-seeded Korean team until the summit clash.
Jyothi and Ojas will commence their campaign in the mixed team event against their counterparts from Bangladesh in the pre-quarterfinals, as per the draw of 32. With the experience and determination they possess, the Indian archers aim to bounce back and deliver a strong performance in the upcoming matches, showcasing their skills on the international stage once again.