Swimmer Vennam Jyothi Surekha turns world class archer

Vijayawada: The achievement of Vijayawada's 22-year old Archer, Vennam Jyothi Surekha, will surely inspire many enthusiastic sportsperson of Andhra Pradesh.

Though she turned out to be a great archer in the latter years, she started her sports career as swimmer at the age of 4. Jyothi Surekha swam across River Krishna in 3 hours 6 minutes which sets a record of sorts for a small girl. 

Later, she took up archery in 2007 and never looked back. She achieved the goals set by on her own and till now she won 33 international medals in her career and scored the highest 706/720. 

Her aim is to win gold medal for the country in both mixed and women category at the Asian Games which would commence from August 19 at Indonesia.

She received the Arjuna Award from the President of India. Now she is one of the team members of Indian Archery which stands first in the World.  

Vennam Jyothi Surekha who was born on July 3rd, 1996 at Nadimpalli village of Guntur district, ranked 14th in the world archery, her personal best was Rank 10.

Surekha attributes her success to the constant support of parents, coaches, friends and the college management. She emerged as an Indian archer bringing accolades to State, her saga in sports journey and career graph continued to rise with her goals focused.

Surekha completed her schooling and Intermediate from Nalanda institutions. Now she is pursuing MBA at KL University after completing her B Tech the previous year. Her parents Surendra Kumar and Sri Durga’s support is the key to her success in achieving several medals, she says with proud.

She recalls that with his father’s initiative she took up archery from swimming. 

Speaking to The Hans India, Surekha’s father Surendra said that he insisted Surekha to take up archery in 2007. After four years of practice in archery she established herself as junior archer and won World Championship and Asian Championship, he recalls. 

Her systematic and methodical practice has elevated her to the present position in the recent ranking announced by the World Archery Association bringing pride to the nation on to the international platform.

Surendra said that Surekha bagged 2011-13 Junior and Mixed categories of world championships. Her winning streak continued with silver medals for 2013, 2015, 2017 consecutively. She won Gold medal of 2016 team in World Universities Championship. 

From 2012 to 2018 she won two silver and four bronze medals out of 15 world cup tournament. After a bronze in mixed teams in 2014 Asian Games and from 2011 to 2017 in Asian championship, Surekha won two Gold, two Silver and two Bronze medals in individual category.

In 2013, she bagged the world Archery Target Award and three media awards.

The Asian Games gold medals in individual category paved way to the recognition in international circuit of archery. Subsequently, in 2016 of South Asian Games, she won Silver Medal in individual category.

Surekha said that she had been working hard at all training camps before the tournaments which are paying off in the form of medals. She said that she was aiming to win gold in both the categories at the upcoming Asian Games at Indonesia.

She says, “With sincerity and dedication to whatever sport one chooses one will reap the fruit of success.”