Archery has a long history in India, and modern Indian archers such as Deepika Kumari, Atanu Das, Jyothi Surekha Vennam and Dhiraj Bommadevara have won medals at World Cups, Asian Games and world championships. The rules are set by World Archery.
Two main bow types
- Recurve: the bow used at the Olympics. Its limbs curve away from the archer at the tips. Archers use a simple sight but no magnifying scope.
- Compound: uses a system of cables and pulleys (cams) that reduce holding weight. Archers can use magnifying sights and release aids. Compound is part of the Asian Games and world events, and a compound mixed team event has been approved for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics.
Distances and target
- Olympic recurve events are shot at 70 metres.
- Compound target events are usually shot at 50 metres.
- The target face has 10 scoring rings. The inner gold ring scores 10, and the outer white ring scores 1. An arrow touching a line gets the higher score.
Ranking round
Competitions usually start with a ranking round, where archers shoot 72 arrows. Their total decides the seeding for the knockout matches.
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Recurve: the set system
In recurve individual matches, archers shoot sets of three arrows. The archer with the higher set score gets 2 set points, and a tied set gives 1 point each. The first archer to reach 6 set points wins the match. If the match is tied 5 to 5, a single arrow shoot off decides it, with the arrow closest to the centre winning.
Compound: cumulative scoring
In compound matches, scores are added across five ends of three arrows each. The higher total wins. A shoot off is used if scores are tied.
Team events
Team events involve three archers per team, and mixed team events have one man and one woman. Each team member shoots a set number of arrows per end, with time limits.
Time limits and safety
Archers must shoot within set time limits for each end. Strict safety rules apply on the field, such as shooting only when the signal is given and collecting arrows only after the whistle.
India’s goal
India is still chasing its first Olympic medal in archery, despite strong results in world events. Compound archers like Jyothi Surekha Vennam have won world titles and Asian Games gold.
Bottom line
Archery rules reward precision: 10 points for the centre, a set system in recurve and cumulative scores in compound, with shoot offs for ties.
Source / स्रोत: World Archery, Archery Association of India
