India has sent a full-strength team of six archers to compete for medals at the Paris 2024 Olympics, marking the first time since London 2012 that India has fielded a complete archery team at the Summer Games.
Veteran archers Deepika Kumari, former world No. 1, and Tarundeep Rai are making their fourth Olympic appearance in Paris. Pravin Jadhav is also back for his second Olympic outing after Tokyo 2020. Notably, this is Deepika’s first Olympic appearance since becoming a mother.
Joining them are four debutants in the Olympic archery arena. Archery events at Paris 2024 are scheduled from July 25 to August 4 at Les Invalides.
Paris 2024 Olympics Archery: Indian Team
- Men: Tarundeep Rai, Dhiraj Bommadevara, Pravin Jadhav
- Women: Deepika Kumari, Bhajan Kaur, Ankita Bhakat
Indian archers will compete in all five archery medal events at Paris 2024: men’s team, men’s individual, women’s team, women’s individual, and the mixed team event, which has been added to the Olympic program this year.
Archery Competition Format
The archery competition will kick off with the ranking rounds on July 25, a day before the official Opening Ceremony. During the ranking round, all archers will shoot 72 arrows, with scores determining the seedings for subsequent rounds.
For team competitions, the top four seeded teams from the ranking round will advance directly to the quarter-finals, while teams seeded 8th to 12th will compete for the remaining four quarter-final spots. The mixed team event will feature the top 16 pairs based on combined scores of the top men’s and women’s archers from each nation.
In each of the five events, the losing semi-finalists will compete for the bronze medal.
India is still in pursuit of its first Olympic archery medal.
Paris 2024 Olympics Archery: India Results and Scores (Aug 2, 2024)
| Event | Archer/Team | Ranking Round | Round of 64 | Round of 32 | Round of 16 | Quarter-finals | Semi-finals | Bronze Medal Match | Gold Medal Match |
| Men’s recurve individual | Dhiraj Bommadevara | 4th (681) | beat Adam Li (CZE) 7-1 | lost to Eric Peters (CAN) 6-5 | DNQ | NA | NA | NA | NA |
| Men’s recurve individual | Tarundeep Rai | 14th (674) | lost to Tom Hall (GBR) 6-5 | DNQ | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA |
| Men’s recurve individual | Pravin Jadhav | 39th (658) | lost to Kao Wenchao (CHN) 6-0 | DNQ | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA |
| Women’s recurve individual | Deepika Kumari | 23rd (658) | beat Reena Parnat (EST) 6-5 | beat Quinty Roeffen (NED) 6-2 | TBD | ||||
| Women’s recurve individual | Bhajan Kaur | 22nd (659) | beat Syifa Nurafifah Kamal (INA) 7-3 | beat Wioleta Myszor (POL) 6-0 | TBD | ||||
| Women’s recurve individual | Ankita Bhakat | 11th (666) | lost to Wioleta Myszor (POL) 6-4 | DNQ | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA |
| Men’s recurve team | Team India | 3rd (2013) | NA | NA | Bye | lost to Turkiye 6-2 | DNQ | NA | NA |
| Women’s recurve team | Team India | 4th (1983) | NA | NA | Bye | lost to Netherlands 6-0 | DNQ | NA | NA |
| Recurve mixed team | Dhiraj Bommadevara/Ankita Bhakat | 5th (1347) | NA | NA |
Legend:
- DNQ: Did Not Qualify
- NA: Not Applicable
- TBD: To Be Decided
Key Points and Strategy
The Indian archery team, with a blend of experienced veterans and enthusiastic debutants, aims to capitalize on their strengths in both individual and team events. The ranking rounds have set a positive tone, particularly with strong placements by Dhiraj Bommadevara and the mixed team pair. The strategy moving forward will focus on maintaining consistency and leveraging their ranking positions to advance through the elimination rounds.
Historical Context and Aspirations
India has come close to the podium in past Olympics, and the current team is determined to make history in Paris. The presence of seasoned archers like Deepika Kumari and Tarundeep Rai adds a layer of experience and resilience, crucial for high-pressure scenarios. The debutants bring fresh energy and an element of unpredictability, which can be advantageous in a competition of this magnitude.
Upcoming Matches and Expectations
The Indian archers are gearing up for their Round of 64 matches, where they will face archers from various countries. Their performance in these rounds will be critical in setting the stage for potential quarter-final and semi-final appearances. Fans and supporters are eagerly watching, hoping that this talented squad will finally bring home an Olympic archery medal.
Conclusion
As the archery events unfold at the Paris 2024 Olympics, the Indian team remains focused and motivated. With a mix of seasoned competitors and new talents, they are well-positioned to navigate the challenges ahead. The archery community and the entire nation are rooting for them, eager to celebrate what could be a historic achievement in Indian sports.
