Asian Games: We did not focus on the competitors’ shots and just did our best, says women’s compound archery team gold medal winner Parneet Kaur | Asian-games News
Indian compound archers bagged all the team medals on offer in Hangzhou at the Asian Games. First, Jyothi Surekha Vennam, Aditi Gopichand Swami, Parneet Kaur – 2023 World Champions – shot a high-pressure 230 out of 240 in the compound women’s team final against Chinese Taipei. They needed every one of those 230 points, because their rivals shot 229.
Then came Abhishek Verma, Prathamesh Samadhan Jawkar, Ojas Pravin Deotale in the men’s team final against familiar foes South Korea. They shot a 235, and beat the 2018 gold medalls relatively comfortably five points.
The women, heavy favourites based on form and pedigree, had to come through a much more nervy battle but in the end, when the pressure was mounting with the scores nearly level and one arrow left, they each shot a 10.
The men faced a dip in the second set of arrows, when Prathamesh shot an 8. But immediately his teammates were there to prop them up. They recovered and won a fair margin in the end.
In the heat of the battle, they remained focussed on the target but also made sure they were there for each other. Egging their teammates on, high five-ing each other and their Italian coach Sergio Pagni. “This is our big secret. He is a game changer,” Abhishek says about the former World number 1.
“We did not focus on the competitors’ shots and just did our best,” says 18-year-old Parneet Kaur.
On the course to winning the two team gold medals the unflappable duo of Jyothi and Ojas – who already clinched the mixed team gold – led the way.
When their teammates had a dip, shooting the rare 9s, they picked up the slack. Both of them shot seven 10s out of 10 arrows in their finals.“There was wind blowing in between, and we had to calm ourselves and focus on ourselves in shooting our best even in the worst conditions, independently of what the opponents were shooting,” Jyothi says.
“Our coach tells us not to focus on the team you are fighting, instead just focus on ourselves, follow our rhythm and the results will be in our hands,” Ojas says, adding that Abhishek was constantly guiding them from behind. And that they could not have done it without him.Most Read
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The result of some incredible shooting on Thursday was that India have now won all three of the three gold medals that have been on offer from compound archery in Hangzhou so far.
They are guaranteed to win more, with Abhishek and Ojas going at each other in the men’s individual event, in what the former assures will be a ‘friendly final’ because they came for gold and they got it. India could well complete the clean sweep too if Jyothi can win her final.
India’s compound archers have had a stunning international season, and came into the Asian Games to prove their mettle. And they have done it, one shot at a time.
