India's Archers Receive Robust Support Ahead of Asian Games 2026
Strengthening Archery Preparations for Upcoming Events
To enhance readiness for the Asian Games 2026 and the forthcoming Archery World Cup stages, the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, along with the Sports Authority of India, is providing substantial financial and high-performance backing to top archers like Dhiraj Bommadevara and Jyothi Surekha Vennam.
Significant Financial Aid for Elite Archers
Both Dhiraj and Jyothi are integral members of the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) Core group. Dhiraj, who will represent India in the recurve category at the 2026 Asian Games, has received around Rs 66.28 lakh in support during the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic cycle through TOPS. Meanwhile, compound archer Jyothi Surekha Vennam has been granted nearly Rs 24.56 lakh in assistance, as reported in an official release.
Focused Support for Jyothi Vennam
Jyothi has also been allocated funds for a specialized Foreign Training Camp scheduled from July 20 to August 5, 2025, at the Beiter Archery Centre in Germany. Additionally, TOPS has financed the engagement of sports psychologist Shree Advani to enhance Jyothi's mental conditioning and readiness for competitions leading up to significant international events.
Thorough Training and Preparation Camps
This financial support is part of a comprehensive international and domestic training program for the Indian archery team. Earlier this year, a foreign training camp took place in Mexico from March 26 to April 5, ahead of the Archery World Cup Stage 1, funded by NTPC CSR, at a total cost of Rs 57.42 lakh. This exposure camp included several elite Indian archers, such as Dhiraj, Jyothi, Deepika Kumari, and Atanu Das, providing them with essential international training experience before the competitive season.
Preparations are ongoing with a Senior National Archery Coaching Camp at the SAI National Centre of Excellence in Sonipat, running from May 20 to June 7. This camp has gathered 16 top archers from both recurve and compound categories, supported by coaches and sports science personnel, focusing on building teamwork, consistency, and medal readiness for the Asian Games and upcoming World Cup stages.
To further refine their skills before the Aichi-Nagoya games, the archers heading to the Asian Games will participate in an exposure camp in Japan from September 5 to 18. The Asian Games 2026 is set to take place from September 19 to October 4.