India has officially announced its 12-member archery squad for the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, with a mix of rising stars and experienced performers earning places after a highly competitive selection process in Sonipat.
The final squad announcement brought joy for some athletes and heartbreak for others, underlining the depth and growing competitiveness within Indian archery.
Leading the recurve squads will be Dhiraj Bommadevara and Ankita Bhakat, both of whom impressed during the selection trials held at the Sports Authority of India’s National Centre of Excellence in Haryana. Compound archery responsibilities will once again rest heavily on world-class performers like Jyothi Surekha Vennam, who remains one of India’s strongest medal hopes heading into the Games.
However, the biggest talking point after the announcement was the absence of several established names. Olympians Deepika Kumari and Atanu Das failed to make the final squad despite their vast international experience and past success for India. Their omission highlighted just how fiercely contested the trials had become.
The selection process combined evaluations for the Asian Games and upcoming Archery World Cup stages, making every round of competition enormously important for the athletes involved. Archers were judged not only on reputation but on consistency, composure and recent performance under pressure.
For Dhiraj Bommadevara, the selection represents another major milestone in a rapidly rising career. The young archer has steadily established himself as one of India’s most dependable recurve talents through strong international performances and calm temperament in high-pressure situations.
Meanwhile, Jyothi Surekha Vennam continues to carry enormous expectations in the compound category. Already among the world’s elite archers, she enters the Asian Games cycle as one of India’s strongest gold-medal contenders after several outstanding performances at recent World Cup events.
The 2026 Asian Games in Japan are expected to feature one of the strongest archery fields in recent history, particularly with dominant nations such as South Korea, China and Chinese Taipei all expected to arrive with world-class line-ups.
India, however, will travel with growing confidence. Over the past few years, Indian archers have consistently challenged the traditional powerhouses in both recurve and compound categories, winning medals across World Cups, Asian Championships and global competitions.
The pressure now shifts to preparation. With the squad finalised, coaches will focus on refining combinations, strengthening mental conditioning and ensuring the athletes peak at the right time before the Games begin in September.
For the selected archers, the announcement marks the beginning of an enormous opportunity. Representing India at the Asian Games carries prestige, expectation and immense responsibility — especially in a sport where every arrow can define careers.
And for those who narrowly missed out, the selection results serve as a reminder of the intense standards now required to wear the Indian jersey in modern international archery.
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