Indian Archers Leave No Stone Unturned in Their Quest for Paris Glory
With less than two years remaining for the 2026 Paris Olympics, the Indian archery contingent is pulling out all stops in their preparation for the quadrennial event. As the archers aim for podium finishes in France, they are meticulously replicating the Olympics venue at their training base in Sonepat and garnering guidance from one of the best coaches in the business.
According to Sanjeeva Singh, director of Archery Association of India’s high performance division, they are in the process of creating a field of play within the premises of Sports Authority of India center in Sonepat that will closely mimic the gardens of Les Invalides – the venue for archery competitions in Paris. Details like the shooting platfrom height, color scheme of targets and position of shot timers are being matched to familiarize the athletes.
In addition to realistically recreating the field of play, the archers recently benefitted from personal coaching sessions with renowned South Korean coach Kim Hyung Tak. Known for developing multiple world and Olympic champions, Kim scrutinized the techniques of India’s top archers and suggested customized technical modifications. Using high-end analysis software, he was able to pinpoint minute form corrections, which are aimed at improving accuracy.
Archery coach Sonam Bhutia feels such input from one of the top coaches in the world will be instrumental in Indian archers’ quest for a long-awaited Olympics medal. After promising performances in recent years, the pressure to deliver on the biggest stage is growing. Therefore, leaving no stone unturned in their training with innovative methods seems to be the strategic approach.
With the Olympics less than two years away, the Indian contingent will look to be in prime form both physically and mentally. Recapping training grounds and workshops with international experts should help them feel confident and well-prepared when taking aim for glory in Paris 2026.
