Abhishek Verma eyes LA Olympics, Commonwealth Games 2030 after Asian Games

India’s most decorated compound archer Abhishek Verma is determined to fight his way back into the national team after missing out on the country’s historic Olympic qualification at the Asian Games, targeting not only the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics but also the 2030 Commonwealth Games on home soil.

India became the first country to secure an Olympic quota in compound archery at the recently concluded Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, where the discipline will make its Olympic debut in the mixed team competition. Sahil Jadhav and Chikitha Taniparthi secured the mixed team gold to secure their place, while India also won the men’s and women’s team titles.

The 37-year-old, who was not selected for his fourth successive Asian Games, admitted it was disappointing to be out of action but took solace in the performances of the youngsters he led.

“Obviously I felt bad about missing the Asian Games,” Verma told PTI in an interview from Hyderabad, where he is competing for Prithviraj Yodhas in the Archery Premier League (APL).

“But my students and juniors were there and they played the way I wanted them to. India have established themselves as a strong force in combined archery and they did it again.”

Places in the Olympic quota belong to the country, not the athletes who secure them, and final entries are determined by a trial closer to the Games.

With India’s qualification secured, he believes the country can now fully focus on preparing for Los Angeles, with around 18 months to fine-tune combinations and further improve performance.

“The pressure of qualifying is now off our backs. We can fully focus on the Olympics without the distraction. We have about a year and a half to prepare and we have to make the most of it,” he said.

Verma is not ready to give up his own Olympic ambitions. After winning five medals, including two golds in three appearances at the Asian Games, along with multiple World Cup titles, the 37-year-old is still hungry for more.

“It is human nature that the more you achieve, the more you want. I have competed in the Asian Games three times and won five medals. Now when I say to myself that I want to compete in the fourth Asian Games and win two or three more medals, that desire will never end,” he said.

Verma has set his sights on both the 2028 Olympics and the 2030 Commonwealth Games, which India will host. He said he has been training since compound archery was added to the Olympic program and expected his efforts to show in the upcoming selection trials.

“I intend to continue to compete and give 100 per cent performance. My target is the 2028 Olympics and I am also eyeing the 2030 Commonwealth Games in India. You will see the results in the upcoming tests,” he said.

India’s strong showing at the Asian Games has reinforced his belief that the country can make a big impact at the Olympics.

While combined archery will offer one medal opportunity through the mixed team event, back archery has five events, giving India more room to add to its list.

The Indian recurve contingent also made a mark at the Asian Games, where Kumkum Mohod won the individual gold and added another title in the women’s team event.

India finished ahead of traditional powerhouse Korea (3-3-3) in the archery medal standings with nine medals (five gold, two silver and two bronze).

MORE HOPE FOR LA 2028 MEDALS

Verma believes the depth across both disciplines gives India reason to be optimistic about its Olympic prospects.

“I believe the Indian team can win a medal in compound archery at the Olympics and that would be a bonus. Recurve is also doing well and the overall level of Indian archery has also improved. I think India could win two or three medals in archery,” he said.

Verma’s confidence stems not only from results, but also from the quality of performances. Although he has not won an individual medal since his gold at the 2023 World Championships in Medellin, Colombia, he believes his scores will remain competitive and that he must focus on turning them into victories.

“In the two national ranking tournaments, we scored around 715-716, which is fine. I can’t control everything, but I can keep trying and work on making up for the missed opportunities.”

VERMA TEACHER

Even when he was out of the national team, Verma continued to play a role in India’s progress, guiding several younger archers, including Chikith, who flourished under his tutelage after moving to the Sports Authority in India’s Sonepat hub.

The two stayed in touch during the Asian Games. Verma said his involvement was a natural extension of his responsibilities as a senior athlete rather than a formal coaching role.

“It is not necessary for you to officially claim to be a coach to guide others. As a senior, it is my duty to help take Indian archery forward. I have guided the youngsters from the beginning,” he said.

“I took notes, identified areas for improvement and worked to upgrade my own game. I passed these insights on to my juniors so they could benefit from my experience. It may not be an official role, but I try to help them whenever they need guidance.”

Verma said he remained in regular contact with the team, even before the crucial knockout rounds.

SPECIFIC TESTS FOR MIXED TEAMS

Looking to Los Angeles, Verma also called for a selection system that puts more emphasis on mixed team combinations, match performances and chemistry between archers.

“Some archers do well in ranked competitions while others perform better in matches. The combination also matters, so I think we should design the trial format with a mixed team in mind and consider who performs best in that format,” he said.

He believes potential combinations need enough time to develop ahead of the Olympics, while India also needs to retain a wider pool of competitive reserves.

“Athletes should have at least a year to compete with each other and build a bond. They should participate in five or six tournaments to develop that understanding,” he argued.

“It’s equally important to have a strong reserve. I wouldn’t recommend just one reserve, we should have five or six athletes competing regularly so that we have options when the final selection is made,” he said.

Verma also welcomed the Archery Premier League as a platform for competitive exposure and team bonding, describing it as a useful break from the intensity of the regular tournament circuit.

“APL is a good recreational activity for archers. It allows you to step away from the seriousness of regular training and tournaments, relax and build team unity. It’s a different experience, and that in itself is valuable,” he said.

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