Archery World Cup Stage 1: Jyothi bags a hat-trick of gold

KOLKATA: The Indian compound archers kept the country's flag flying high claiming five medals at the Archery World Cup Stage 1 at Shanghai on Saturday.

They made a clean sweep in the team events winning gold in the men's, women's and mixed events. Two more medals were added in the individual category when Jyothi Surekha Vennam bagged a gold and Priyansh claimed his maiden World Cup medal in the form of a silver in the men's individual section.

Jyothi, Aditi Swami and Parneet Kaur trounced Italy 236-225 in the women's compound team final to open account with a gold medal.

The men's team of Abhishek Verma , Priyansh and Prathamesh Fuge followed them en route to defeating the Netherlands' Mike Schloesser, Sil Pater and Stef Willems 238-231 in the final.

Second-seeded Jyothi and Verma then completed the sweep clinching the mixed team event seeing off a late resurgence from their Estonian rivals - Lisell Jaatma and Robin Jaatma - to win 158-157 in a thrilling finish.

Asian Games champion Jyothi then recorded a hat-trick of gold to become the second Indian after Olympian Deepika Kumari to secure triple gold medals in a World Cup.

Jyothi was down one point in the individual final with scores of 88-87 against Andrea. Jyothi rose to the challenge to draw parity at the end of fifth end when Andre a dropped two points, while Jyothi scored a 29 to level it 146all to force a shoot-off. Both shot nine in shoot-off but Jyothi's arrow was closer to the centre to seal her third gold.