On Saturday, October 18, 2025, celebrated Indian archer Jyothi Surekha Vennam etched her name in history by becoming the first Indian woman compound archer to clinch a medal at the prestigious World Cup Final. Her impeccable, flawless performance in Nanjing secured her the bronze.
The reigning Asian Games champion demonstrated her exceptional skill against Great Britain’s world No. 2, Ella Gibson. Jyothi executed a perfect sequence, firing 15 flawless arrows to secure a dominant 150-145 victory, earning her first-ever podium finish in this elite competition.
In the intensely competitive eight-archer World Cup season finale, the 29-year-old Indian prodigy started strong, confidently defeating Alexis Ruiz of the U.S. with a score of 143-140 in the quarterfinals.
Despite her strong start, Jyothi faced a formidable challenge in the semifinals, where she narrowly lost 143-145 to Mexico’s world No. 1, Andrea Becerra, following a truly nail-biting encounter.
The match was a rollercoaster of emotions; Jyothi held a slender one-point lead (87-86) after the third end. However, Becerra showcased incredible composure, hitting three perfect 10s in the fourth end to surge ahead 116-115. She then secured her place in the final by clinching the fifth end 29-28, leaving Jyothi just shy of achieving her personal best in the tournament.
Undeterred, the 2021 World Championship silver medalist made a spectacular comeback in the bronze medal match. She delivered an astonishing performance, scoring 15 consecutive 10s across all five ends to decisively outclass Gibson and conclude her World Cup campaign on an incredible high note.
This significant achievement marked Jyothi’s third appearance at the World Cup Final, following her earlier outings in Tlaxcala (2022) and Hermosillo (2023), where she had previously been eliminated in the opening rounds.
India also saw another competitor in the women’s compound section, Madhura Dhamangaonkar, whose journey ended in the opening round after a 142-145 loss to Mexico’s Mariana Bernal.
Meanwhile, in the men’s compound event, Rishabh Yadav remains the sole Indian hopeful, set to commence his challenge against South Korea’s Kim Jongho later today. Notably, no Indian archers qualified for the recurve section this year.