India has had an incredible run at the World Archery Championship so far, with the Indian Mixed and Men’s Compound Archery team winning silver and gold medals. A sport that had been lurking in the shadows all these years is finally getting the recognition it deserves. Compound Archery has now been added to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games.
In an exclusive conversation, one of the country’s most decorated archers opened up on the silver-medal win, the discipline’s inclusion at the LA28 Olympics and what fuels her after competing for over a decade.
Jyothi, take us inside that final, what was going through your mind as you walked on that stage today?
Jyothi: Thank you so much. Today, yes, we won silver, but we missed the gold. There was just a small margin, but we are happy with our performance. Yesterday, we shot really well, and today too we fought till the last arrow. This time we settled for silver, but hopefully next time, it’s gold.
We all know archery is a mind game. Were you nervous when the match began? A medal was already assured, but of course you were aiming for gold. Did you settle quickly into rhythm, or was there some nervousness in the beginning?
Jyothi: No, I was not nervous. I was very focused on giving my best rather than thinking about external factors. I just wanted to shoot my best on the podium.
And how do you personally handle those few seconds before releasing an arrow? You always look so calm and composed. As you said, you weren’t nervous. How do you do it?
Jyothi: I don’t know, maybe it’s the experience I’ve had over the past few years. I know I made good shots, but there were two arrows that landed on nine. I wasn’t okay with that, because I shot really well and wondered why they landed there.
After those nines, was there a particular shot where you felt the pressure the most?
Jyothi: No, there was no pressure. In fact, once you see you’ve missed, you try to get better the next time. You become more focused; I believe.
And when that last arrow was shot and the result was clear, you knew you had the silver, what was your very first thought?
Jyothi: Not happy, as anyone would be. But it’s a game. One has to win, and one has to lose. They shot really well in the last two ends, they shot 40 and 40.
Looking back, could you have done anything differently? If you could replay one moment, what would it be?
Jyothi: I don’t know. As I said, we really gave our best no matter what. That’s what matters, right? You have to be satisfied with what you’ve done. The result is not in your hands.
Tell us about the communication with your partner. What were you talking about throughout the game and before the match?
Jyothi: During the match, it was only the cue words that we used, like what he wanted to hear when he was shooting, or what I needed to hear. Before the match, we just thought about giving our best, no matter what, and fighting till the last arrow, whatever the result.
Looking ahead now, compound archery’s inclusion in LA 2028 has given the discipline a new future. How do you see these wins feeding into your preparation and motivation for the Olympics?
Jyothi: As I’ve said before, LA 2028 is far, almost three years from now. We just want to take it one step at a time, giving our best in every tournament we compete in. It’s a long journey and many things will change. Now we’ve been gaining support from everyone after the inclusion, and it’s not the same as it was before.
You’ve been competing for over a decade now. What are the challenges of staying consistent, and what drives you to keep pushing?
Jyothi: I think it’s the desire to win something, or the desire to prove yourself at the international level. For me, it’s more personal. I try to keep my goals short-term. Each tournament becomes my goal until it ends. The competition is tough, in India too, with many young archers coming up and scoring really high. To maintain and prove you’re still there is tough, but it’s a good sign for Indian sport. There’s a pipeline of young athletes really trying to prove themselves. For me, if I have won something, my next goal is what I don’t yet have, the medals missing from my collection.
How are you going to celebrate this silver-medal win?
Jyothi: The celebration hasn’t started yet, or maybe it’s postponed a bit because we still have matches coming up. Two more days of matches. So, we’ll try to win as many medals as possible and celebrate later.
Who was the first person you called after the match?
Jyothi: Of course, my parents. They were really happy. It’s my ninth medal at the World Championships, and it’s not easy to win a medal there. They were very happy, and said it’s okay even if it’s silver, because I played really well. Yesterday too, we shot 160 in the first match and continued shooting well till the very last arrow of the day.
I know you want to take it step by step, but is the Olympic medal the final aim now?
Jyothi: Maybe…Yes. Because that’s something missing. I have medals in every tournament I’ve participated in. Now that Compound Archery is included in the Olympics, maybe. Let’s hope for the best.
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