Asian Games 2023: Jyothi Surekha 'never expected' three gold medals in Hangzhou

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Team India created history at the Asian Games 2023 with a record medal haul of 107 medals including 28 gold medals, bettering their 2018 tally where India had accumulated 70 medals. The archery contingent had their best-ever games, winning nine medals in total including two in recurve and seven in compound, which included five gold medals.

There were two in the group who won a hat-trick of gold medals -- Jyothi Surekha Vennam and rising star Ojas Pravin Deotale. The duo first combined to clinch the mixed team gold, followed it up with a team gold, and then wrapped up proceedings with a gold in the individual event as well.

Their form heading into the Asian Games 2023 was heartening with Ojas claiming a World Championship gold while Jyothi had won a team gold and an individual bronze at the same competition.

For the woman archer from Andhra Pradesh, she felt positive going into the events but never did she imagine winning three gold medals. In the previous iteration of the multi-sport games, the women's team had to settle for silver and Jyothi was part of the squad.

"I'm delighted. I never expected such an outcome. My goal was to give my best and not worry about the outcome. I'm glad everything worked out. Not only am I delighted with the three gold medals but I'm really satisfied with how consistent I was, which will give me great confidence going forward," the 27-year-old told myKhel.

Jyothi already has all the top prizes in her locker -- from World Cup gold to Asian Games gold. But her focus is already on the upcoming Asian Championship. That is the mark of a true champion.

"I'm happy with my displays in 2023. The season has been good so far and I'm pleased with it all. But the Asian Championship is still left and I want to end the season on a high and that is my current focus."

For the 21-year-old Ojas, he has just started his Indian archery career and to achieve this level of success so early on shows the talent he has and who better to understand this than Abhishek Verma, who has been the flagbearer for compound archery in India.

Verma won two medals -- a team gold and an individual silver, incidentally losing to Ojas in the final. Instead of disappointment, he was pleased with how Indian archery is growing.

"Ojas is a rising star. He has been on a roll this year. This is great for Team India. We have been competing for a medal this entire year including the nationals! This shows what a strong team we have and I hope this continues."

One thing is for certain, India's compound archery future seems to be in the right hands as these two young guns have proved they have what it takes to beat the world's best and come out on top no matter the stage and the circumstances.