Jyothi Surekha Vennam Enters Fourth Asian Games With Experience, New Team and One Clear Priority

For Jyothi Surekha Vennam, the Asian Games are familiar territory. The pressure, the competition and the expectation are nothing new. But as she prepares for her fourth consecutive appearance at the continental showpiece, there is still something different about the challenge awaiting her.

The 30-year-old compound archer has returned from each of her previous three Asian Games campaigns with a medal. Yet rather than allowing that record to become an additional burden, Jyothi is choosing to treat the 2026 edition as an entirely new challenge.

Her preparation has been about controlling what she can her equipment, her technique, her physical condition and, perhaps most importantly, her mindset.

“We are working really hard, preparing ourselves, making sure that everything is good as part of our equipment, or be it ourselves, and working towards it,” Jyothi said.

That approach reflects the precision demanded by compound archery, a discipline where seemingly small details can have a major impact on performance.

The sport is harder than it looks

To the casual observer, archery can appear deceptively simple. Stand at the shooting line, draw the bow and hit the target. But Jyothi knows better. The moment an athlete begins training seriously, the complexity of the sport becomes apparent. Equipment management, shooting technique, consistency, concentration and the ability to remain composed under pressure all become part of the equation.

“Not only archery, like any sport, when we watch someone playing, it seems really easy. It seems like this is so easy; we also can just do it. But it's not the case,” she explained.

“Once you start training or once you start using the equipment, then you get to know how hard it is.” That understanding has been built over years at the highest level. For Jyothi, competing internationally is not simply about having the technical ability to shoot accurately. It is about reproducing that performance repeatedly, regardless of the occasion.

And with the Asian Games approaching, she is deliberately avoiding the temptation to think about what her previous campaigns mean. “Right now I'm just focused on giving my best at the Games rather than thinking about any other things,” she said.

A new-look women's team

One of the biggest differences this time is the Indian women's compound team itself. While Jyothi brings considerable Asian Games experience, the squad has been developing its chemistry as a unit. The team has already competed together at World Cup stages three and four, providing valuable opportunities to understand one another before the biggest competition of the year.

The selection trials were completed in May, leaving the team with limited but important competition time together. “We are improving, we are working hard, and we are getting used to each other,” Jyothi said. “No matter what the situation is, we are there for each other.”

That collective understanding could prove crucial when the pressure rises. Team events require athletes to manage not only their own performance but also the rhythm and confidence of their teammates. For Jyothi, however, experience is not something that belongs exclusively to the senior member of the squad.

She points out that none of her teammates is stepping onto the international stage for the first time. Each has competed at major tournaments and understands the demands of elite competition.

“I think all the team members are really experienced,” she said. “They have been part of many international tournaments in previous years and this year too.”

Three Asian Games medals would be enough to create expectations around any athlete. Yet Jyothi's approach is to reset her goals depending on the importance of the tournament. The World Cups are regular fixtures on the international calendar. The Asian Games are different.

“I think the main thing would be just reframing your goals every now and then, depending upon what tournaments you're playing and what is the tournament that you give the most importance to,” she said. For 2026, there is no confusion about that hierarchy.

“This year we only had the Asian Games, which is having the utmost priority. The World Cups happen every year for us. This year it's the Asian Games.”

That clarity could be one of her biggest strengths heading into the competition.

Jyothi's journey has also been closely connected with the Inspire Institute of Sport, where she has been part of a high-performance environment alongside fellow Indian archers, including Rishabh Yadav and Abhishek Verma. Training around athletes competing at the highest level offers more than access to facilities. It creates an environment where athletes can exchange experiences, understand different approaches and continuously challenge themselves.

For Jyothi, that ecosystem has been another part of a career that has now reached its fourth Asian Games. This time, however, the challenge is not about defending the past.

Her three previous medals establish what she has already achieved. The new Indian women's team offers another opportunity to build something together, while the priority attached to the Asian Games gives the season a clear focal point. Jyothi Surekha Vennam will arrive in 2026 with experience, but without relying on it. The target is to shoot one arrow at a time, stay focused on the process and give herself the best possible chance when the medals are decided.

After three Asian Games appearances and three medals, she knows exactly how difficult the sport can be.

Now she is ready to find out what this fourth chapter can bring.