“The arrow will definitely be 10”: Jyothi Surekha Vennama’s simple mantra ahead of the Asian Games

New Delhi: For Jyothi Surekha Vennam, the mantra ahead of the Asian Games is deceptively simple: perfect the process and let the scoreboard take care of itself. India’s No. 1 archer and big medal hope Jyothi will come to Aichi-Nagoya for her remarkable fourth appearance at the Asian Games. In Hangzhou in 2023, she produced a gold medal, winning gold in the individual, women’s and mixed teams. She won medals at every year of the all-around.A 30-year-old man said this TOI that her emphasis was on clean execution of each shot rather than being concerned with anticipation. “Right now I’m just focusing on myself and shooting my best shot. That’s the mindset I’m going with,” she said, adding, “I’m not chasing results or scores. I know if I hit a shot really well, the arrow will definitely be a 10.”Jyothi will front a new trio with Chikitha Taniparthi and Prithika Pradeep, a team that competed together at the World Cups. She will also compete in the singles, women’s team and mixed team events, putting her at the heart of India’s campaign. “We are working together as a team to perform well at the Games. I am confident with the way things are going now,” she said.The preparation was meticulous. At SAI Sonipat, the second phase of the national camp included archery-specific physical work, two daily drills plus psychology, physiotherapy and gym work. The team leaves for Japan on Friday and will spend about 10 days training in Kurobe City before entering the game village.No dramatic technical reconstruction is taking place. “I haven’t made any changes to my equipment or myself,” said Jyothi, who is supported and trains at the Inspire Institute of Sport (IIS). Her greatest improvement was mental: “Reading, visualization and short meditation keep me calm and focused.” Her approach is just as practical when sessions falter: analyze execution, check equipment, accept bad days and move forward without giving up confidence or composure.South Korea remain a formidable opponent, but Jyothi warns against overlooking other Asian teams, saying surprises can spring up on a field where everyone understands what’s at stake. “The South Koreans are tough competitors, but you can’t underestimate any other Asian country. They’re all doing a really great job and working hard.”The stakes are higher than the medals, as the Asian Games offer opportunities for Olympic qualification, including a quota associated with the mixed team event, adding to the significance ahead of the Games in Los Angeles.Jyothi also spoke about the disappointment of being snubbed yet another Khel Ratna and said it was natural for an athlete to “feel bad”. “But I can’t let things that are personal affect the team as a whole,” she said.