India’s campaign at the Archery World Cup Stage 4, held from July 8 to 13, 2025, in Madrid, brought both celebration and reflection.
Competing against 336 archers from 49 countries at the final World Cup stage before the season-ending World Cup Final in Nanjing, the Indian contingent showcased particular strength in compound archery, securing three medals: two silvers and one bronze.
The Madrid stage reinforced India’s dominance in the compound discipline while also highlighting areas for growth in recurve and men’s team events. At the heart of this success was the ever-reliable Jyothi Surekha Vennam, who played a pivotal role in each medal-winning performance.
Event Overview and Indian Squad
The Madrid stage was notable not only for its scale but also for India’s blend of experience and fresh talent. India fielded a 16-member squad, including young debutants like 15-year-old Gatha Anandrao Khadake and 16-year-old Sharvari Somnath Shende in the recurve women’s team, alongside stalwarts like Deepika Kumari and Jyothi Surekha Vennam.
The strategy, as reported by The Hindu, aimed to give World Championships-bound archers critical match exposure while introducing future stars to top-level competition. This approach also meant excluding India’s second-ranked compound archer Priyansh from some events to test newer pairings and line-ups.
Medal-Winning Performances: All in Compound
India’s medals came exclusively in compound events, underlining a clear pattern of strength in this format.
Women’s Compound Team – Silver
The Indian trio of Jyothi Surekha Vennam, Parneet Kaur, and Prithika Pradeep produced an impressive run to the final. In a closely fought gold medal match against Chinese Taipei, India fell short by just two points, losing 225–227.
This narrow margin highlighted the high quality of the contest. Despite the final defeat, the team’s silver medal reflects consistent performances across rounds and underlines India’s status as a top contender in women’s compound team events.
Women’s Compound Individual – Silver
Once again, Jyothi Surekha Vennam led the way in the individual category. After strong performances in earlier rounds, she advanced to the final to face Ella Gibson of Great Britain, one of the world’s most consistent compound archers.
The final turned into a high-quality showdown, decided by a single point: Jyothi narrowly lost 147–148. This silver adds to Jyothi’s impressive career tally, taking her to 37 Archery World Cup medals, cementing her legacy as one of India’s most decorated and dependable athletes.
Mixed Team Compound Bronze
Jyothi also partnered with Rishabh Yadav in the mixed team event. After a semi-final loss to the Netherlands, the pair regrouped to face El Salvador in the bronze medal match.
Displaying calm under pressure, the Indian duo secured a 156–153 win, adding another medal to India’s Madrid tally. Earlier in qualifying, Jyothi and Rishabh had set a new world record with a score of 1431, showcasing their exceptional synergy.
Notable Qualifying Performances
Beyond the medals, the qualifying rounds saw record-breaking displays:
- Rishabh Yadav scored 716 points, breaking the world record.
- Jyothi Surekha Vennam followed closely with 715 points.
- India’s men’s compound team topped qualifying with 2135 points.
- The women’s team led qualifying with 2116 points.
- The mixed team’s score of 1431 also set a new world record.
These results reflected India’s technical strength and depth, though not all qualifying momentum translated into podium finishes, as seen in the men’s team’s narrow quarterfinal exit to France (233–234).
Challenges in Recurve and Men’s Events
While the compound archers excelled, India’s recurve contingent including Deepika Kumari, Ankita Bhakat, Dhiraj Bommadevara, and Tarundeep Rai did not secure medals in Madrid. Similarly, the men’s compound team (Rishabh Yadav, Aman Saini, Priyansh) missed out despite a record-breaking qualifying performance.
This contrast underlines the gap between India’s consistent compound success and the challenges faced in recurve, where the competition remains fierce and India’s young line-up is still developing.
Context: India’s Broader World Cup Campaign
The Madrid stage was part of the 19th edition of the Hyundai Archery World Cup, the final stop before the World Cup Final in Nanjing. Across all four stages in 2025, India collected 14 medals, including three golds a testament to the country’s steady rise in the sport.
While earlier stages like Auburndale and Shanghai saw higher medal hauls (four and seven medals, respectively), India returned empty-handed from Antalya. The three medals in Madrid helped steady the campaign, even though all came from the compound discipline.
India’s campaign at the Archery World Cup Stage 4 in Madrid showcased a familiar narrative: dominance in compound archery, led by Jyothi Surekha Vennam, and ongoing rebuilding efforts in recurve.
As the team looks ahead to the World Cup Final in Nanjing and the World Archery Championships, the experience gained in Madrid especially by debutants in recurve will prove invaluable. Meanwhile, Jyothi’s consistency remains an anchor for India, continuing to inspire both teammates and fans.
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