17-year-old Aditi Swami creates history, clinches senior world Archery title

In a remarkable feat of talent and skill, 17-year-old Aditi Swami has secured the senior world champion title in archery, less than two months after claiming the junior world title. The young archer from Satara, India, emerged victorious in the women's compound final of the Archery World Championships held in Berlin on Saturday, defeating Mexico's Andrea Becerra.

Aditi's stellar performance earned her a near-perfect score of 149 out of a possible 150 points, leaving her opponent, the 16th-seeded Andrea Becerra, trailing by two points. Andrea had made headlines after eliminating the reigning champion, Sara Lopez, in the pre-quarterfinals. However, the formidable Indian archer proved to be a tough challenge for Andrea.

In an impressive display of accuracy and composure, Aditi took an early lead in the first round, landing all her first three arrows closer to the center (X) and securing a 30-29 advantage. Throughout the competition, she remained focused and consistent, hitting the mark in all her 12 arrows in the initial four rounds, extending her lead by three points.

With a commanding performance, Aditi confidently approached the final finish, though a single nine in three arrows momentarily interrupted her perfect streak. Nevertheless, by that point, she had already sealed India's second-ever World Championship gold. The young archer's triumph was a collective achievement, as she had previously contributed to India's maiden World Archery Championship gold by securing victory in the women's composite team final alongside teammates Parneet Kaur and Jyothi Surekha Vennam.

In the all-India semi-final, Aditi's journey to the top was not without challenges. She faced her 'idol' and India's most successful archer, Jyothi Surekha Vennam, whom she eventually defeated 149-145. Jyothi, in turn, showcased her prowess in the bronze medal play-off, securing a perfect 150 score against Ipek Tomruk of Turkey, clinching the third-place spot.