India seizes early momentum in compound mixed team after LA28 inclusion
India became the first mixed team to claim Hyundai Archery World Cup glory in 2025, as compound archery builds towards its Olympic debut at the LA28 Games.
Jyothi Surekha Vennam and Rishabh Yadav defeated Huang I-Jou and Chen Chieh-Lun with a score of 153-151 in the four-end compound mixed team final at Central Florida 2025, to win the first major international competition just days after the announcement that the event will be included in the next Olympics.
The stakes for this discipline have never been greater, and Central Florida provided an inkling to who could be etched into compound history forever.
India, retaining their season opening stage win from Shanghai 2024, took the initiative with 22-year-old Yadav partnering world number four Vennam, replacing Abhishek Verma.
“100%... so far,” said a joyful Yadav, expressing confidence in their future prospects. “It’s just pressure for me, because Jyothi is the dominant person on this team, and I need to be the silent one, but as you know, Indian kids are not silent.”
The changing winds in Central Florida posed challenges throughout the week, affecting even the experienced Jyothi initially.
Despite a shaky start, dropping a nine in her first shot and then an uncharacteristic wide eight at the start of the second end, the 2022 Asian Games Champion regained her composure, drawing on her extensive experience since her senior debut in 2011 to hit four 10s and win her 21st circuit medal.
“I’m just happy that I won the gold medal today and I hope to continue the run in the next World Cups too,” said Jyothi.
“LA28 is a long way to go, but this year we have the World Championships, the Asian Championships and the World Cups, so we just want to focus on shooting our best in each and every tournament and win as many medals as possible for our country.”
Slovenia also celebrated a notable achievement, with Toja Ellison and Tim Jevsnik securing the mixed team bronze.
In the historic recurve men’s Olympic gold medal match between Brady Ellison and Kim Woojin in Paris 2024, Toja was the one watching her spouse in the stands bid for medals, but the roles were reversed this time at Lake Myrtle Sports Park.
As the ninth seed, Slovenia defeated Italy’s Elisa Roner, the 2023 European Games bronze medallist, and Michea Godano, who had just won silver in the men’s team, finishing with a perfect final score of 40.
“I have always been an overall shooter, I just became a mum, but I never stopped shooting,” said 31-year-old Ellison. “People thought I was out because I haven’t been active on the World Cup circuit, but I’ve been training and shooting consistently."
Competition in Shanghai continues with compound individual finals in the afternoon, which you can watch on archery+.
Podiums: Central Florida 2025
Full results on the event page.
Compound men’s team
- USA (Sawyer Sullivan, Kris Schaff, James Lutz)
- Italy (Michea Godano, Marco Bruno, Elia Fregnan)
- India (Rishabh Yadav, Ojas Pravin Deotale, Abhishek Verma)
Compound women's team
- Mexico (Andrea Becerra, Dafne Quintero, Mariana Bernal)
- Italy (Elisa Roner, Marcella Tonioli, Giulia Di Nardo)
- USA (Alexis Ruiz, Abigail Winterton, Olivia Dean)
Compound mixed team
- India (Jyothi Surekha Vennam, Rishabh Yadav)
- Chinese Taipei (Huang I-Jou, Chen Chieh-Lun)
- Slovenia (Toja Ellison, Tim Jevsnik)
Watch coverage from Central Florida with a subscription to archery+.
