How addition of compound archery to LA28 Olympics could benefit India

Indian compound archers are one of the best in the world and soon they will have a chance to show their class in the Olympics. The compound mixed team event was added to the sports programme for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics by the International Olympic Committee on Wednesday.

It is the first time since archery was reintroduced at the Olympic Games in 1972 that a new bowstyle is added to the competition.

Archery takes big step with compound event addition to LA2028

The recurve archery and its existing five recurve events – men’s and women’s individual, men’s and women’s team, and mixed team – will continue to be part of the archery programme in Los Angeles. A total of six archery medals will be available at LA 2028.

“This is a monumental step forward for the sport and for the millions of compound archers worldwide who have long sought Olympic recognition,” World Archery President Prof Dr Ugur Erdener said.

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“My profound gratitude goes to the International Olympic Committee, not least IOC President Thomas Bach for his great interest in this important project, and the LA28 Organising Committee for their support throughout the process.”

“I am deeply proud of the work of the whole archery community, and our athletes, who have helped make this a reality, and I am so excited to witness what our first Olympic compound archers will achieve in Los Angeles.”

Archery returned to the Olympic programme in 1972 with individual recurve events for men and women. Team events were added in 1988, and a fifth medal — the recurve mixed team — debuted at Tokyo 2020.

The inclusion of the compound mixed team event for LA 2028 ensures archery retains gender balance and stays within its athlete quota.

What is compound archery?

Compound is a modern bow style developed in the USA, featuring cams and pulleys that enhance efficiency and power. Since its debut at the World Archery Championships in 1995, it has seen decades of investment in high-performance training and global development.

The compound bow has been part of the World Games since 2013 and has featured in recent continental multisport events across the Americas, Asia, Europe, and the Pacific.

Why India will benefit from this decision?

India have never won an archery medal at the Olympics, but the addition of a compound event can change the game. Indian compound archers have consistently done well in world and Asian events.

India's Ojas Pravin Deotale is the reigning world and Asian Games champion in men’s individual compound archery while Aditi Gopichand Swami and Jyothi Surekha Vennam won the gold and bronze respectively in the women’s individual compound event at the 2023 World Archery Championship.

Parneet Kaur, Aditi and Jyothi also combined to win gold in the women's team compound event at the 2023 World Archery Championship.

Indian compound archers also won all five gold medals in their category at the Asian Games 2023 including the top prize in mixed team event. The gold was won by Jyothi and Ojas.