India's Archers Aim High: Robust Support Fuels 2026 Asian Games Preparation

The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, along with the Sports Authority of India, is providing substantial financial and training support to India's top archers like Dhiraj Bommadevara and Jyothi Surekha Vennam. They are enhancing preparations for the 2026 Asian Games and Archery World Cup stages through strategic training camps and psychological readiness programs.

In a bid to bolster India's prospects at the 2026 Asian Games, the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, alongside the Sports Authority of India, has introduced comprehensive financial and training programs for the nation's elite archers. Key figures in this initiative include Dhiraj Bommadevara and Jyothi Surekha Vennam, both integral to the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS).

Dhiraj, vying in the recurve category, has notably received support totaling approximately Rs 66.28 lakh for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic cycle. Meanwhile, compound specialist Jyothi Surekha Vennam has benefited from around Rs 24.56 lakh. Plans also included a Foreign Training Camp in Germany, tailored to her specific needs, accentuating the ministry's commitment to personalized athlete support.

The strategic preparations extend to various national and international training endeavors. Among them, a foreign training initiative in Mexico fortified the team's competitive edge. Moreover, a National Coaching Camp in Sonipat brought together 16 top-tier archers, gearing them for the forthcoming Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games. Additionally, an exposure camp in Japan will ensure readiness for the 2026 events slated for September.