The first time Jyothi Surekha Vennam turned up at the Asian Games , as a wide-eyed teen in Incheon 2014, the Indian women’s compound team lost to Chinese Taipei in the semi-finals and eked out a bronze.
The last time Jyothi checked in at the Asian Games before this, as the most decorated Indian compound archer in Hangzhou 2023, the women’s team beat Chinese Taipei to win gold. Jyothi pocketed her fourth team medal at the Asian Games on Wednesday, a gold again in 2026 to back up the 2023 run, after the silver in 2018 and bronze in 2014. She had the company of younger compatriots Chikitha Taniparthi, 21, and Prithika Pradeep, 18 in Japan. Like it wasn’t for some established names (Abhishek Verma in compound and Deepika Kumari and Atanu Das in recurve) or young achievers (2023 compound world champions Aditi Swami and Ojas Deotale) at the Asian Games trials.
Because even with hard work, you need some luck. Its star shone the brightest as the individual and mixed team champion to boot. The duo’s teammate knows a thing or two about turning up and competing at a young age at this multi-sport continental stage. “I had so many things to learn from then until now. Even the competition has increased, be it in the world or in India. The scores are really high now. The competition is very tough, and margins are very narrow. You can’t predict anything until the last arrow. That unpredictability wiped off almost the entire compound squad that delivered a golden high five three years ago, while bringing in a wave of fresh faces. Of the six who swept every compound title in Hangzhou, only Jyothi is the common link to the individual, mixed and women’s team titles. Rising domestic scores and the pressure of frequently fighting for a team spot through highly competitive trials often mean no one’s place is safe. “I think I’m also lucky, in a way. Not too much, but it has to be on your side. Also on her side is the hunger to keep going, even as younger rivals and teammates keep coming in.
“I was very young when I went to my first Asian Games in 2014,” the 30-year-old told HT. “You have to be as consistent as possible to earn your spot in the Indian team,” she said. “You have to reframe your goals every now and then,” she said.
