Abhishek Verma targets 2028 Olympics and 2030 Commonwealth Games after Asian Games omission
Abhishek Verma told PTI in Hyderabad on October 12, 2026, that he will target the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics and the 2030 Commonwealth Games after being left out of India's Asian Games team. The 37-year-old made the remarks while competing for Prithviraj Yodhas in the Archery Premier League.
India secured an Olympic quota in compound archery for the first time at the recently-concluded Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, where the discipline will make its Olympic debut in the mixed team event. Sahil Jadhav and Chikitha Taniparthi won the mixed team gold to clinch that berth, and India also claimed the men's and women's team titles. On the recurve side, Kumkum Mohod won individual gold and added the women's team title, contributing to India finishing ahead of Korea (3-3-3) in the archery medal standings. Overall India collected nine medals at the Asian Games: five gold, two silver and two bronze.
Verma acknowledged the disappointment of missing selection for what would have been his fourth consecutive Asian Games. "Of course, I felt bad about missing the Asian Games," Verma told PTI in an interview from Hyderabad, where he is competing for Prithviraj Yodhas in the Archery Premier League (APL). "But my students and juniors were there, and they performed the way I would have wanted them to. India has established itself as a strong force in compound archery, and they proved that once again." Having won five medals including two gold across three Asian Games appearances, along with multiple World Cup honours, he said his appetite for more success persists. "It is human nature that the more you achieve, the more you want. I have competed at the Asian Games three times and won five medals. If I now tell myself that I want to compete at a fourth Asian Games and win two or three more medals, that desire will never end," he said.
The Olympic quota belongs to the country rather than the individual athletes and a trial closer to the Games will determine the final entries. Verma said that, with the quota secured, the focus can shift fully to preparation. "The pressure of qualifying is off our backs now. We can focus fully on the Olympics without that distraction. We have around a year and a half to prepare, and we have to make the most of it," he said.
Verma said he has been training since compound archery's inclusion in the Olympic programme and intends to continue competing. "I intend to keep competing and performing at 100 per cent. My target is the 2028 Olympics, and I am also looking at the 2030 Commonwealth Games in India," he said.
Despite not having won an individual medal since his gold at the 2023 World Cup in Medellin, Colombia, Verma said his scores remain competitive. "In the two national ranking tournaments, we have been scoring around 715-716, which is up to the mark. I cannot control everything, but I can keep making an effort and work towards making up for the missed opportunities," he said.
Even while outside the national squad, Verma has continued to mentor younger archers, including Chikitha after the latter moved to the Sports Authority of India's Sonepat centre, and he stayed in touch with the team during the Asian Games. "It is not necessary to officially declare yourself a coach to guide others. As a senior, I have a responsibility to help take Indian archery forward. I have been guiding the youngsters from the beginning," he said. On selection, he argued trials should reflect mixed-team match performance and chemistry: "Some archers do well in ranking events, while others perform better in matches. The combination also matters, so I think we should design the trial format with the mixed team in mind and take into account who performs best in that format," he said. He added that "The athletes should have at least a year to compete together and build a bond. They should participate in five or six tournaments to develop that understanding," and recommended depth in reserves: "I would not recommend just one reserve; we should have five or six athletes competing regularly, so that we have options when the final selection is made," he said. On the Archery Premier League he commented: "The APL is a good recreational activity for archers. It allows you to step away from the seriousness of regular training and tournaments, relax and build team unity. It is a different experience, and that is valuable in itself," he said.
Verma said the coming selection trials will show whether his preparations pay off. "You will see the results in the upcoming trials," he said.