India had an extremely successful day at the Archery World Championships in Yankton on Friday as they won silver in the compound women's team and mixed team events. The compound women's team comprised of Jyothi Surekha Vennam, Muskan Kirar and Priya Gurjar, while Vennam was partnered by Abhishek Verma in the mixed team event.
Vennam scripted history by becoming the first Indian to win two silvers at the same edition of the Worlds. She's also India's most decorated archer at the tournament and the only Indian in history to medal in three different events at the Worlds. Vennam has now won five medals at the Worlds, including three silvers and two bronzes. Other than the two silvers here, she won two bronzes in 2019 (compound women's team and compound individual) and a silver in 2017 (compound women's team).
Both the final losses on Friday came against Colombia. While the women's team lost 224-229, the mixed team suffered a 150-154 loss in the gold medal matches. The Colombian women's team comprised the legendary Sara Lopez, Alejandra Usquiano and Nora Valdez. Lopez was partnered by the vastly experienced Daniel Munoz in the mixed team event.
This is the India's first medal in the compound mixed team event at the tournament. It's their third medal in history in the compound women's team event. They had previously won a silver in 2017 and bronze in 2019, meaning that they've now medaled at each of the last three editions of the tournament. Six of India's 10 medals in the history of the tournament have now come in the compound events, with Vennam contributing to a staggering five.
Vennam and Verma have both also progressed to the quarterfinals in their respective individual categories on Saturday. Vennam will take on Croatia's Amanda Mlinaric in the last eight, while Verma will face Netherlands' Mike Schloesser. Schloesser is the 2013 World Champion and finished second in the ranking round here.