Historic Olympic quota, more medals – but no pay: Indian archery coach unhappy over payment delay

Sahil Jadhav (left) and Chikitha Taniparthi (right) celebrate with coach Dave Cousins ​​after winning gold in mixed team archery. (PTI Photo) NEW DELHI: Indian compound archers made history at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games by becoming the first country to secure an Olympic quota in the discipline. But while the team celebrated the landmark achievement and the rich medal, the foreign coach who helped them to success was unhappy because of the salary delay which stretched for more than three months.American Dave Cousins, who was appointed India’s chief archery coach in May, has threatened to quit and leave the country if his outstanding dues are not cleared, according to a PTI report.The development has raised questions about the support given to the coach, who has already achieved significant results, as India moves towards the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics. However, the Archery Association of India (AAI) and the Sports Authority of India (SAI) have acknowledged the delay, attributing it to a technical issue, saying the matter is now resolved and the payment is expected to be cleared soon.“He spoke to some officials and said that if the dues are not paid, he is leaving home. He is really unhappy with the way he has been treated for three months… he has not been paid yet,” sources told PTI.

A historic breakthrough, but a dispute over salary

Cousins ​​has helped India win three gold medals and a bronze in combined archery at the Asian Games, adding to a total of five golds, two silvers and two bronzes in the recurve and cross events.The biggest breakthrough came in the mixed teams event where the relatively unfancied Indian pair of Sahil Jadhav and Chikitha Taniparthi stunned South Korea in a shootout after the final was tied 157-157 over four ends. The win secured India its first-ever Olympic quota in compound archery, a discipline that will feature a mixed team event at the 2028 Los Angeles Games.Cousins ​​took charge of India’s composite program with the responsibility of building a competitive squad for the Olympics. His results at the Asian Games came with a group that faced questions about its ability to deliver at the highest level.The American also guided 18-year-old Prithika Pradeep to her first World Cup bronze on the Madrid stage in Spain.Regarding India’s Asian Games campaign, Cousins ​​emphasized that the team’s priority is preparation rather than medal predictions.“The only thing we’ve been willing to commit to is that our athletes will go prepared and execute the process to the best of their ability,” he said.“When the training is right, the preparation is right, and the ecosystem is right, these are the results you get. We’re exceptionally happy to be able to get the first place ever for archery at the Olympics. That’s a huge thing for us right now.”

Sahil Jadhav and Chikitha Taniparthi with team coach Dave Cousins ​​during the Asian Games. (PTI Photo)

AAI, SAI say payment will be cleared soon

AAI Treasurer Dr Joris Paulose Ummacheril acknowledged the delay but said the issue had been resolved and payment would be made soon.“There was some issue with the Sports Authority of India (SAI) so the payment was delayed. But everything has been resolved and it will be paid within two days,” Joris told PTI.An SAI official in New Delhi also attributed the delay to a technical problem with the bank, adding that the matter was being processed.“We have already spoken to him and assured him that the payment is in progress. Due to a technical issue with the bank, it has been delayed and should be done within a few days,” the official said.Assurances suggest the dispute could soon be resolved, although the episode highlighted administrative problems that can undermine the momentum generated by sporting success.

Building towards LA 2028

Cousins, 49, is a former world number one who won the archery world title in 1999 and 2003. His appointment in May followed the departure of Sergio Pagni, under whom India swept all five archery gold medals at the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou.Meanwhile, the federation is also in talks with South Korean coach Park Chae-soon to take charge of India’s recurve program ahead of LA 2028. Park, who coached South Korea’s women’s team at the London 2012 Olympics and the men’s team at Rio 2016, is expected to join by December.As Indian archers build momentum towards the next Olympics, Cousins’ contribution has already produced a landmark result in archery. A historic quota and several medals from the Asian Games have boosted India’s prospects in the discipline, which is making its debut at the Los Angeles Olympics.