It was a historic day for Indian archery as Rishabh Yadav and Jyothi Surekha Vennam etched their names into the record books at the fourth stage of the Hyundai Archery World Cup 2025 in Madrid. The dynamic duo shattered the world record in the compound mixed team event, scoring an incredible 1431 points, surpassing the previous record of 1429 set by Denmark in 2023.
Yadav, competing in the compound men’s category, topped the 85-athlete qualification round at Vallehermoso Stadium, delivering a near-flawless performance. He opened with a perfect 300, remaining on pace to challenge the long-standing individual world record of 718 by Braden Gellenthien. Though he narrowly missed that mark, Yadav finished with a career-best 716, including 68 arrows in the 10-ring and 35 Xs.
Speaking after the event, Yadav shared his excitement:
“It’s special because the mixed team is newly added to the Olympics, and we’ve been building momentum with these performances. This world record means a lot.”
For Jyothi, currently the top seed in the women’s compound category, it was yet another display of her consistency and excellence. The 2023 Asian Games triple gold medallist paired seamlessly with Yadav to produce a formidable partnership, reminiscent of their gold-winning effort earlier this season in Central Florida.
This marks a strong comeback for the Indian pair, who had not teamed up in the mixed event during the last two stages of the World Cup. “We both shot well today,” said Jyothi. “It felt great to be back as a team, and we’re happy with the consistency and rhythm we’ve built together.”
Yadav, known for his emotional exuberance, celebrated the moment with visible joy—rushing to hug Jyothi and even taking a quick phone call with her parents after equipment inspection.
This performance not only reaffirms India’s growing dominance in compound archery but also signals strong preparation ahead of the event’s Olympic debut. With archers like Rishabh Yadav and Jyothi Surekha Vennam leading the charge, India is emerging as a global powerhouse in the sport.
