Paris: India's Abhishek Verma and Jyothi Surekha Vennam outshines experienced French opponents to win maiden World Cup gold in compound mixed team archery at the Stage 3 edition in Paris on Saturday, PTI reported.
The Indian duo made a spectacular start which drove them throughout the match, and successfully countered their opponents, Jean Boulch and 48-year-old Olympic medallist Sophie Dodemont, later resistance. India sealed the competition 152-149.
One more medal is expected Indian archery team from the women's recurve team. India's Deepika Kumari, Ankita Bhakat and Simranjeet Kaur together will compete in the event on Sunday.
Jyothi Surekha Vennam, the world no. 3, made a comeback more than seven months after the victory. One more medal is expected from her, who was sidelined in the Asian Games trial and who will play the individual semi-final on Saturday against veteran French archer Sophie. Sophie had failed to qualify for the 2012 London Olympics and switched o compound discipline, winning bronze in Beijing Olympics.
India's third-seeded duo won four 10s, including two Xs, gaining a three-point lead. This has put reasonable pressure on the French pair. But, in the second end, Indians managed only one ten, while the French reduced their deficit to one.
The third end built a tie, leading to a fourth end. Abhishek and Jyothi comfortably won two more points, keeping their nerve, and clinched the title.
The pair, the most successful Indian compound, had won several World Cup bronzes earlier and had a silver in the tournament at Yankton last year.