Olympics 2024: Why India's Archery Gold Medallists From Asian Games are not Competing in Paris?

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India's compound archers had an exceptional year in 2023, capturing numerous medals and demonstrating their prowess on the international stage. However, their dreams of competing in the Olympics were dashed as compound archery was not included in the Paris 2024 or Los Angeles 2028 Olympics.

Jyothi Surekha, Aditi Swami and Prathmesh Jawkar, three of India's top compound archers, showcased their skills by winning medals at the Asian Games 2023. Despite their success, the exclusion of compound archery from the Olympic programme means that neither is likely to win an Olympic medal in the near future.

Unlike recurve archery, which is an established Olympic event, compound archery has yet to gain that recognition. The hopes for the inclusion of compound archery in the Paris 2024 Olympics were high, but the discipline did not make it into the programme. This exclusion continued with the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics, despite rumours and speculation.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced the list of five additional sports for the 2028 Games, which included cricket, squash, flag football, baseball, and lacrosse, but not compound archery. Follow elaborated Paris Olympics coverage

Challenges in Securing Olympic Inclusion

The decision was influenced by the IOC's evaluation criteria for new disciplines, which include the need for new venues, additional player quotas, and the replacement of existing disciplines. Although compound archery could have been held at the same venue as recurve archery, its inclusion would have increased the total number of athletes, a factor the IOC was not willing to accommodate.

India's compound archers won seven medals at the Asian Games, yet the sport's lack of Olympic status has led to its undervaluation compared to recurve archery. Despite their impressive performances, the absence of compound archery from the Olympics means that their achievements do not receive the same level of recognition and prestige.

Archery has a long history as a sport, dating back to its use in hunting and warfare, and has evolved into a modern Olympic event. Recurve archery, which debuted at the 1900 Summer Olympics, is considered a purer test of skill by the IOC, while compound bows are a relatively recent invention. The IOC prioritizes sports with a long and rich history, and the modernity of compound bows might contribute to their exclusion.

Additionally, compound archery faces challenges in gaining global traction. While it is included in events like the World Archery Championships, the Paralympics, the Asian Games, the World Games, and the Archery World Cup, it is not as universally popular as recurve archery.

The high cost of compound bows and equipment makes it difficult for athletes from developing nations to afford them, which affects global accessibility and might have influenced the IOC's decision.

The spectator appeal of compound archery is another factor. While the precision and tension of the sport are thrilling for enthusiasts, it might not be considered as exciting for a broader Olympic audience compared to other sports with larger fanbases, such as football, basketball, or athletics.

At the Asian Games 2023 in Hangzhou, China, a 16-member Indian archery contingent finished with nine medals. The archery programme featured competitions in both recurve and non-Olympic compound disciplines, with events in men's individual, women's individual, men's team, women's team, and mixed team sections.

Indian compound archers swept all five gold medals in their category, with Jyothi Surekha Vennam and Ojas Pravin Deotale emerging as the women's and men's individual champions, respectively. Abhishek Verma won silver in the men's individual category, while the 17-year-old Aditi Swami clinched bronze in women's individual.

India also won gold medals in the men's, women's, and mixed team compound events, with Jyothi Surekha Vennam and Ojas Pravin Deotale each winning three golds.

Despite these remarkable achievements, the exclusion of compound archery from the Paris 2024 and Los Angeles 2028 Olympics remains a significant setback for India's talented archers. The sport's absence from the Olympic programme continues to overshadow the success of Indian compound archers at events like the Asian Games.