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Netherlands’ De Laat and Schloesser topple world leaders India at Madrid 2025

11 July 2025

Madrid, Spain

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Mike Schloesser versus Jyothi Surekha Vennam in compound mixed team semis at Madrid.

A major upset unfolded in the compound mixed team semifinals at the fourth stage of this year’s Hyundai Archery World Cup in Madrid as the Netherlands defeated world number one India.

Earlier this week, India’s duo of Rishabh Yadav and Jyothi Surekha Vennam set a new 144-arrow mixed team world record with 1431 points under intense heat at Vallehermoso Stadium.

But the dry Madrid weather did not favour them on Friday. Despite winning the first end 39-38, India faltered as world number one Mike Schloesser and teammate Sanne de Laat rallied to take the match, 155-152.

“I think we had really great communication, especially with windy conditions like these,” said De Laat, the Antalya 2021 European Championships bronze medallist. “You have to keep communicating – where the wind’s coming from, where to aim, what to do – and that’s what we kept doing.”

“I think that’s why we’re a really strong team.”

There’s always been a sense of “what if” about Schloesser and De Laat as a mixed team. The Dutch pair have shown their potential time and again – winning silver at the Minsk 2019 European Games, bronze at the Paris 2023 World Cup and gold at last year’s European Championships.

But De Laat, like many compound archers, is self-funded and missed all three World Cups in 2024. Madrid marks her first appearance on the circuit since Paris two years ago.

With compound now confirmed for its Olympic debut at LA28, the prospect of the Netherlands fielding a strong medal-contending team has gained urgency. Schloesser, the reigning World Archery Champion from Berlin 2023 and one of the most decorated compound archers of all time, will need the right partner if he’s to complete his collection with Olympic gold.

Netherlands and Korea posing together at targets.

A win over in-form Indian pair on De Laat’s return is a promising sign – and a perfect 40 in the third end, in gusty conditions, shows just how strong the pairing can be.

“It feels really good [to beat India], but I think just the fact that you know you’re in the gold final feels above whatever team you’re winning against,” De Laat said modestly.

Next up? A final against Korea’s Choi Yonghee and So Chaewon.

Normally associated by their dominance in recurve, Korea are overall having a sterling week in compound.

Better known for their dominance in recurve, Korea is also enjoying a banner week in compound. Both the men’s and women’s compound teams will shoot for gold on Saturday, and Han Seungyeon – the Antalya stage three runner-up – is through to the women’s semifinals.

Korea already has four podiums from Shanghai and Antalya in compound, and now they’re guaranteed at least one more. But their mixed team semifinal against El Salvador was anything but easy, edging the match 150-149.

“Today there was a really strong wind – even I could feel it,” said So. “That was the hard part, but we talked a lot about where it was going. I think that helped us – and some luck followed us too.”

In recurve mixed team, Paris 2024 Olympic gold medallist Korea will face the USA in Sunday’s gold medal match, while Chinese Taipei and France will shoot for bronze.

Competition continues this evening in Madrid with recurve individual eliminations.