Archery World Cup Stage 4: India women’s compound team wins silver in Madrid

India’s women’s compound team signed off with a silver medal at the Archery World Cup Stage 4 in Madrid after falling 228-232 to Colombia in the gold medal match on Saturday.

The trio of Jyothi Surekha Vennam, Prithika Pradeep and Chikitha Taniparthi entered the final on the back of an impressive run, including a statement semifinal victory over powerhouse South Korea. However, they were unable to replicate that level in the title clash as Colombia produced a clinical display to claim the gold.

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India struggled to find the consistency that had carried them through the earlier rounds, allowing Colombia to maintain control of the contest. While the Indians showed flashes of quality, a handful of dropped points at key moments proved costly against an opponent that rarely put a foot wrong.

Seventeen-year-old Prithika Pradeep was India’s brightest performer, delivering a composed display under pressure and repeatedly finding the middle of the target. Veteran Jyothi Surekha Vennam, meanwhile, could not produce her usual scoring rhythm, leaving India with too much ground to recover.

For Colombia, Alejandra Usquiano was the standout archer, producing a near-flawless performance that anchored her side’s victory. Former world champion Sara Lopez also played her part as Colombia comfortably held off the Indian challenge.

The silver medal opened India’s account at the season-ending World Cup stage in Madrid and continued an encouraging campaign for the women’s compound team. Earlier this season, the same trio had captured gold at the opening World Cup stage in Puebla, Mexico, underlining their consistency on the international circuit.

India’s medal hopes in Madrid remain alive, with Prithika advancing to the women’s compound individual semifinals, where she will look to add another podium finish. The recurve squad also remains in contention, with teenage archer Kirti Sharma chasing a medal in her breakthrough World Cup season.