Kisik Lee Appointed as Head Coach for India's Recurve Archery Team Ahead of 2028 Olympics

Kisik Lee, a seasoned coach from South Korea, has been appointed as the head coach of India's national recurve archery team. With a focus on the upcoming 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, Lee aims to lead the team to its first Olympic medal in archery. He replaces Baek Woong Ki, who stepped down after not receiving accreditation for the Paris 2024 Olympics. Lee brings over 30 years of coaching experience, having previously guided teams to Olympic success. His appointment marks a significant step in India's quest for archery excellence on the global stage.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jun 19, 2025, 02:01 IST

Kisik Lee Takes the Helm of India's Archery Team

New Delhi [India] - Kisik Lee from South Korea has been appointed as the new head coach for India's national recurve archery team, gearing up for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

Lee will succeed Baek Woong Ki, who resigned from the coaching position after not receiving accreditation for the upcoming Paris Olympics in 2024, as reported by a sports news outlet.

The 67-year-old coach is anticipated to begin his duties in August or September, overseeing both senior and junior recurve teams with the goal of securing India's first Olympic medal in archery at the LA Games.

Despite consistent participation in Olympic archery events, Indian archers have yet to reach the podium at the Summer Games.

Kisik Lee is expected to split his time between New Delhi and the regional training facility in Sonepat, although his contract is still pending finalization.

"My role is to train both the athletes and coaches, ensuring that the archers achieve commendable results," Lee stated in an interview with World Archery, as cited by the sports news outlet.

According to Joris Paulose Ummacheril, treasurer of the Archery Association of India (AAI), "All his requests have been approved, and he will have complete autonomy to implement his strategies."

With over three decades of coaching experience, Kisik Lee has an impressive track record. He began his international coaching career with the South Korean team and later led Australian archers to Olympic success, including Simon Fairweather's gold in Sydney 2000 and Tim Cuddihy's bronze in Athens 2004.

Lee also had a significant impact as the head coach of the USA recurve archery team from 2006 to 2024, during which American archers secured over 300 World Cup medals, including numerous golds, three Olympic medals, and multiple world titles.

He played a crucial role in the development of Brady Ellison, a five-time Olympic medallist and 2019 recurve world champion, helping him become one of the sport's leading figures.