Renowned Korean coach KiSik Lee, who has guided Team USA to over 300 World Cup medals and three Olympic podium finishes, is now on course to become India’s national archery head coach. The Archery Association of India (AAI) confirmed that Lee has been selected for the top role in the recurve category on a three-year contract, leading up to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. His appointment is currently awaiting final approval from the Sports Authority of India (SAI).
At 67, Lee brings a wealth of experience and a proven track record of success—something Indian archery has long aspired to achieve on the Olympic stage. Despite showing promise over the years, India’s archery program has often struggled under pressure when it mattered most.
Since the 2004 Athens Olympics, India has mostly turned to Korean coaches for expertise, with the exception of the 2012 London Games when Indian legend Limba Ram took the reins. However, the results never quite matched expectations.
More recently, coach Baek Woong Ki was appointed to lead the team for the Paris 2024 Olympics. But due to a lack of clarity and coordination within the system, he was denied accreditation after the team’s support staff quota was exceeded. Preferred personal coaches and physiotherapists of top athletes were given priority, forcing Woong Ki to return home before the Games even began—a situation that highlighted the ongoing challenges in India’s sporting setup.
With Lee’s arrival, hopes are high that Indian archery can finally turn potential into performance on the world’s biggest stage.
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