The long wait is finally over, says archer Jyothi Surekha on inclusion of mixed team event of compound bow in LA Olympics

The 28-year-old, now in the US competing in the World Cup Stage-I championship, is clearly excited and immensely satisfied at the latest move of the IOC

Hyderabad: Just consider these mind-boggling medal haul of Jyothi Surekha Vennam. Eight gold, four silver and seven bronze in World Cups between 2017-2025; one gold, four silver and three bronze in World championship (she was the first Indian to win World archery gold) and multiple medals in the Asian Games including three gold and in Asian archery five gold, five silver and two bronze!

For India’s best known woman compound bow archer, Surekha, the inclusion of the mixed team event of the compound bow in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics means “the long wait is finally over.”

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The 28-year-old Surekha, now in the US competing in the World Cup Stage-I championship, is clearly excited and immensely satisfied at the latest move of the IOC to include the category which she made her own with some stunning performances across all events – the World Cups, World championship, Asian Games and the Asian championship in the last eight years.

“Honestly, we (the compound bow archers) are all very happy at this development. Yes, only the mixed team event has been included in the Los Angeles Games. But, I look at this as the right beginning of what can be a new chapter, especially for all those compound bow archers,” Surekha informed ‘Telangana Today’.

“It is unfortunate that over the years there has been that differentiation between Olympic and the non-Olympic sports with the former given more preference and importance. But, again, no one can take away the kind of achievements we have had in the last decade or so,” she explained.

Reflecting on her own career, Surekha said three years from now for the Los Angeles Games might be too far to make any precise observation as far as her future plans are concerned.

“We have had some other goals before this positive development took place like targeting the World championships, World Cups and also the Asian Games. So, we have to plan slightly differently now with an eye on Los Angeles,” says the articulate B.Tech graduate from Vijayawada.

“This is a precision sport. You have to keep shooting consistently well under challenging conditions over a period of time. Yes, realistically, I do think of a chance to realise my ultimate dream of winning an Olympic medal,” said a smiling Surekha.

“I don’t think right now there is any need to change the training programme just because the category is included in the Olympics. It is just too early to comment on that. We have to figure out and take it event by event and train accordingly,” the gifted archer said.

The feeling of compound bow events included in the Olympics is yet to sink in. Right now, Surekha is focussing on the World Cup I stage in Florida where because of visa issue she could not compete in the team event but is focussing on individual and mixed team events in search of another gold.