COMPOUND ARCHERY FOR 2028 OLYMPICS 

Compound archery is set to make its Olympic debut at the 2028 summer games in Los Angeles. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has approved the inclusion of compound mixed team event, expanding the archery program beyond its traditional recurve-only format. 

What is Compound archery?

Compound archery is a type of archery that uses a compound bow, which is also a modern bow that uses a system of pulleys and cables to bend the limbs. Key features include

Let off: The pulley system reduces the holding weight at full draw, allowing archers to aim for longer period with lesser strain.

The other Key features also include precision, speed and use etc.

THE ROAD TO INCLUSION 

The journey to Olympic inclusion for compound archery has been long. It was developed in the US in the 1960s, compound bow introduced an advantage through system of pulleys and cables. Despite its popularity, especially in the United States, the sport has been absent from the Olympic stage.

In October 2023, the IOC rejected the proposal to add compound events, focusing instead on new sports like cricket and flag football. However, the advocacy from global archery led to an appeal and on April 9, 2025, the IOC announced the inclusion of compound mixed team event in 2028 Olympics. 

Compound-Archery-2028

SIGNIFICANCE OF THE INCLUSION

The addition of compound archery to the Olympics is a new event, it represents the evolution and global appeal. The mixed team format will be featuring one male and one female archer from each nation. The inclusion also opens doors for countries with compound archery programs, such as the United States, India and Great Britain, to showcase the athletes in the Olympics.

GLOBAL IMPACT

The debut of compound archery in the Olympics will boost the sport’s visibility and participation worldwide. The federations are investing more in developing compound archery programs, and young athletes are pursuing the sport with Olympic aspirations. The inclusion of the sport also allows sponsors and manufacturers to engage with a broader audience, leading to increased funding and support from athletes.

IMPACT ON THE SPORT’S FUTURE

The Olympic inclusion is expected to bring an increase of attention, funding, and youth participation in compound archery. The national governing bodies are looking to increase the investment in compound archery programs. Young athletes also have the motivation to take up computer archery after the inclusion in the Olympics. 

Asian-Games-2023-gold-medalist

WHO WILL BENEFIT?

Countries like the United States, India, South Korea, Colombia and Great Britain benefit from the inclusion. The U.S. has been a force, with athletes such as Braden Gellenthien and Paige Pearce. 

India has also emerged in the sport, with athletes regularly reaching podium at the World level events. With this sport being included in the Olympics, these athletes have a chance to showcase their talent in the Olympics.

WHY THE MIXED TEAM FORMAT MATTERS 

Compound archery at the Olympics will be in a mixed team format. They have been effective and popular in world events. Each team will consist of one male and one female archer. It helps in promoting equal participation and highlights cooperation under pressure. 

In Major events like the World archery championships, this format has delivered close fought matches that bring in audiences and helps in showcasing the archer’s skills. The Olympics will amplify this experience.

CHALLENGES AHEAD 

While compound archery is included in the Olympics, it will bring an lot of challenges. Not all the archery federations have well developed archery programs, and it will be struggled to build teams in time for LA28. There will also be a struggle about how compound archery integrates into the Olympic ecosystem, with the games focus on universality and accessibility.

The debates will continue over whether the individual compound archery events including me and women should he included in the future games. 

LOOKING FORWARD TO LA28

As the 2028 Olympics comes close, the archery world is buzzing with anticipation. Athletes have started to train with purpose, teams are reviewing strategies and fans are eager to see compound archery take center stage.

The venue for where the competition will be held is yet to be confirmed, but it will match the grandeur and innovation of the event itself. The inclusion of compound archery will add a dimension to the Olympic games.

WORLD SIGNIFICANCE

Great Britain has made waves in the international compound scene, winning medals all over the world. The athletes hold individual, mixed team and team medals from high profile events across the European and World stages. One front runner in the race to LA is GB’s Ella Gibson, who is the current world number one which she has held for almost 1000 days, having won countless medals at World Cups, World Games, European Championships and more. 

INDIAN SIGNIFICANCE

India’s compound archers including Abhishek Verma, Jyothi Surekha Vennam and Ojas Pravin Deotale, have welcomed compound archery into the LA Olympics. With the inclusion, archery will have a total of six medals events at Olympics. The other five – men’s and women’s individual, men’s and women’s team, and mixed team are all recurve archery events. Ojas Pravin Deotale is the reigning World and Asian games champion in men’s individual compound archery. Jyothi Surekha Vennam has won several medals at archery World Cups and Championships over the years, also paired up with Deotale at the Hangzhou Asian Games to bag the gold in mixed team – the same event which will feature at LA28. Aditi Swami, is the reigning World champion in individual’s women’s compound archery, is also from India.

Compound-Archery

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN RECURVE AND COMPOUND ARCHERY

Recurve is the most traditional bow style and to date, has been the only format of archery discipline at the Olympics since the sport returned to the summer games program at Munich 1972 after a 52-year hiatus. 

Compound invented in the USA the 1960s, meanwhile, is a modern variant which was first inducted in the World archery championships in 1995.

The main difference between recurve and compound archery is the type kf bow which is used to shoot arrows.

CONCLUSION

Compound archery being added to the 2028 Summer Olympics is a sporting update, it’s a recognition of progress, inclusion and evolution. This honors the dedication of thousands of athletes, coaches and fans who believed in the potential of sport. Compound archery in LA28 will be filled with promise, and passion.

This could redefine the trajectory of competitive archery worldwide. By elevating compound archery to the Olympic games, the Games embrace innovation, technical excellence, and diversity in athletic achievement. The sport now finds itself at global attention, with opportunities for younger generations, and role of modern technology in human skill. The 2028 Olympics will be the beginning of a era for compound archery, telling a story of resilience, mastery and evolution.

-Written by Bhumit Malkan