Visa delay costs India medal in Archery World Cup

Kolkata

India’s women’s compound archery team missed the opening stage of the World Cup in Florida due to a US visa delay, a setback coach Jiwanjot Singh Teja believes cost India a certain medal.

World No. 1 archers Aditi Swami, Madhura Dhamangaonkar, and Taniparthi Chikitha could not travel as their visas arrived only after the competition had already begun. Despite applying three months in advance, the delay proved costly.

“It was a sure-shot medal missed,” said Teja. The trio had won all three World Cup gold medals in 2024, and were favorites again.

Teja himself couldn’t travel either. Only Jyothi Surekha Vennam represented India in the women’s compound category, qualifying as the fifth seed. The absence of 18-year-old world champion Aditi Swami was a major blow to India’s medal hopes in the individual event.

The Archery Association of India (AAI) had warned of delays and applied early, but issues in the US visa system caused long wait times. Even with the Ministry of External Affairs intervening, visas came too late for nine applicants — including three compound archers.

Ultimately, only 14 out of 23 team members could travel. Two visa applications were denied outright. Seven others received approval on April 8 — the day the competition began — forcing India to cancel their travel.

India’s men’s compound team still secured a bronze, but the loss of a full-strength women’s team was deeply felt.