Indian compound archers created history to win India its first-ever gold at the archery world championships in Berlin on August 5, 2023.
New Delhi: The Vice-President and Chairman of Rajya Sabha, Jagdeep Dhankhar said the exemplary performance of Indian archers at the World Archery Championship in Berlin, Germany recently “is bound to inspire and motivate the nation”.
On August 5, 2023, the team of Indian compound archers -Jyoti Surekha, Parneet Kaur and Aditi Gopichand Swami – created history to win India its first-ever gold at the archery world championships in any category, and becoming the world champion. The trio defeated Dafne Quintero, Ana Sofía Hernandez Jeon and Andrea Becerra of Mexico 235-229.
Satara’s 17-year-old Aditi Gopichand Swami also created history by becoming the first Indian archer and the youngest ever to win the gold medal in the Compound Women Individual event. She shot 149 out of a possible 150 to beat Andrea Becerra of Mexico by two points on August 5, 2023. She also became the first archer in the history of archery to win two world champion titles in the same year 2023 – the senior and cadet world championship.
Ojas Deotale, who hails from Nagpur and trains together with Aditi under the coach Pravin Sawant in Satara, defeated Lucasz Przybylski of Poland 150-149 to win the Gold Medal match and become the Men’s World Champion in the Compound Men’s Individual event.
India finished the tournament with three gold and a bronze which was won by Jyothi Surekha Vennam, who defeated Ipek Tomruk of Turkey by (150-146) in the Compound Women’s Individual event.
Extending the felicitations on behalf of the House in Rajya Sabha, Vice President Dhankhar particularly highlighted the achievements of the women archers for “scripting history by their spectacular performance.”
Praising the Indian archers for their best-ever performance at the World Archery Championships, he said that their achievements reflect “our rapid stride forward” in the arena of sports and are testimony to the unwavering focus, tremendous hard work and wholehearted dedication of our sportspersons. “This is also on account of affirmative government initiatives and policies,” he added.
In his statement, the Rajya Sabha Chairman noted that 17-year-old Aditi Gopichand Swami secured the first individual world title for the country by winning Gold Medal at the Championships. She became the youngest across the globe to win the title. He also acknowledged Ojas Pravin Deotale who clinched Gold Medal in Men’s Individual event. He became the first Indian male archer to claim such a title at the World Archery Championships.
Wishing the archers all the success in their future endeavours, the Chairman expressed hope that they will continue to bring laurels and make the nation proud by their achievements.
“On behalf of the House and my own, I extend our felicitations to the archers and wish them all success in their future endeavours,” the Rajya Sabha chairman said.
– global bihari bureau
