Mumbai: From the archery talent hub in Satara, which has produced world champions Aditi Swami and Ojas Deotale, to Central Florida, where World Cup participant Jyothi Surekha Vennam experienced a surge of excitement, the announcement of compound archery's inclusion in the Olympics has invigorated India's leading archers. Although it will only feature as a mixed event at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, there is no ambiguity in their emotions. India's compound archers have long awaited this moment. “Very, very long,” Vennam remarked.

This accomplished archer has amassed numerous medals from prestigious competitions, including the World Championships, World Cups, Asian Games, Asian Championships, and World Youth Championships. Throughout this time, the Olympics had not incorporated compound archery alongside recurve. There was hope for the 2028 LA Olympics, given the sport's popularity in the United States, but when the International Olympic Committee's session in Mumbai in 2023 did not include it, disappointment deepened. However, Wednesday's announcement brought renewed enthusiasm. “I’m thrilled that it is finally happening,” Vennam stated over the phone from Florida, where she is with the Indian team for the first leg of the World Cup. “This is a delightful surprise, not just for me but for all compound archers.”

For the 28-year-old, who secured gold in individual, team, and mixed team events at the Hangzhou Asian Games, this development adds new motivation to her flourishing career. “This is monumental for me. I have earned medals in every tournament, but the Olympics was the one accolade missing from my collection. Now, we have three years to prepare for it. The challenge will be to maintain our form and performance consistently.”

India boasts a significantly stronger presence in compound archery compared to recurve on the global stage. Three individual medallists from the 2023 World Championships were Indian, and the women's team, ranked world No. 1, claimed gold. The men's team holds the second position. At the Asian Games two years ago, India dominated by winning all five gold medals in the compound category.

Sanjeeva Singh, the national compound champion of 2004 and a key figure in introducing compound archery to India in the early 2000s, remarked, “Over the past three years, approximately 80% of the international archery medals won by India have been in the compound category. In recurve archery, competitors often have a physical edge over Indian athletes, but compound archery creates a more level playing field. We incorporated compound events into the senior nationals starting in 2004, and given the current talent pool, India is well-positioned to secure an Olympic medal in archery.”

Among the promising talents are Aditi and Deotale, both of whom train at Drushti Academy in Satara, where coach Pravin Sawant has successfully developed numerous compound archers who have advanced to the national level. “Currently, India boasts a strong group of compound archers who motivate one another, including Jyothi, Aditi, Abhishek (Verma, 35), and Ojas,” noted Sawant, who coached the Indian compound team during their successful run at the Asian Games. “However, I have advised my archers to remain humble and concentrate on their training, as three years is a significant period.”

Sawant mentioned that his phone has been inundated with calls from both his academy's archers and their parents, as well as from sponsors and corporations increasingly interested in supporting compound archers. Vennam expressed hope that the inclusion of compound archery in the Olympics would lead to greater recognition for their discipline.

“Despite our consistent medal wins at the Asian Games and World Championships, there was always a sentiment of, ‘That’s nice, but it’s not an Olympic event.’ We often heard that, and it was disheartening at times. I truly hope this changes now, and that more sponsors will take notice of us compound archers,” Vennam stated, as she prepares to compete in the individual and mixed events at the Florida World Cup, while her women’s team members were unable to travel due to visa issues.

India currently boasts a strong contingent of compound archers; however, other nations, particularly the dominant South Korea, are likely to scrutinize this discipline more closely with the upcoming Los Angeles Olympics on the horizon. "We have a greater number of compound archers in India compared to Korea. Nevertheless, in the future, all countries will intensify their efforts. It will not be an easy journey for us," Singh remarked.

Additionally, the expectations and pressure that often accompany Indian archers at the Olympic level cannot be overlooked. Being seen as a potential medal contender can be a significant source of stress. Vennam has faced this pressure at various competitions, but the Olympics present a unique challenge. "I hope we can manage the pressure," she stated. "If we succumb to it, our chances of performing at our best will diminish. We aim to strive for an Olympic medal for our nation."

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