NEW DELHI: India’s top archers, who made their mark on the global stage last year, are now in the running for the prestigious Times of India Sports Awards (TOISA) 2024. Recognised for their outstanding performances, they are set to compete for top honours across the men’s, women’s, and para-archery divisions.
With February 22, the date of reckoning, fast approaching, excitement builds for the much-anticipated announcement of the Archer of the Year award, set to take place in a grand ceremony in Lucknow, the illustrious 'City of Nawabs.'
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Below is a list of all archery nominees for TOISA 2024:
Archer of the Year: Men
Dhiraj Bommadevara
Date of Birth: 4 September 2001
Place of Birth: Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh Sport: Archery
Category: Recurve
Major Achievements in 2024
-Finished 4th in Paris Olympics rankings round
- Quarterfinalist in Paris Olympics Men's team
- Finished 4th in Paris Olympics Mixed team
- World Cup Gold 2024 Shanghai (Men's team)
- World Cup Bronze 2024 Shanghai (Mixed Team)
- World Cup Bronze 2024 Antalya (Mixed Team)
- World Cup Bronze 2024 Antalya (Individual)
A promising archer from Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh, specialising in the recurve category. Achieved 4th place in the Paris Olympics rankings round and reached the quarterfinals in the Men's Team event. Secured multiple World Cup medals in 2024, including a gold in the Shanghai Men's Team and bronze in both Mixed Team and Individual events.
Tarundeep Rai
Date of Birth: 22 February 1984
Place of Birth: Namchi, Sikkim
Sports: Archery
Category: Recurve
Major Achievements in 2024:
- World Cup Gold 2024 Shanghai (Men's team)
- Asia Cup Gold 2024 Baghdad (Men's team)
- Asia Cup Silver 2024 Baghdad (Individual)
- Part of Paris Olympics in both individual and team events
Veteran archer from Namchi, Sikkim, known for his consistency in the recurve category. Part of the gold-winning Men's Team at the 2024 Shanghai World Cup and a silver medalist at the Asia Cup Baghdad (Individual). Represented India at the Paris Olympics in individual and team events, continuing his legacy as a skilled competitor.
Pravin Jadhav
Date of Birth: 6 July 1996
Place of Birth: Satara, Maharashtra Sports: Archery
Category: Recurve
Major Achievements in 2024
- World Cup Gold 2024 Shanghai (Men's team)
- Asia Cup Gold 2024 Baghdad (Men's team)
Hailing from Satara, Maharashtra, excels in the recurve category. Played a crucial role in securing gold for India in the Men's Team event at the 2024 World Cup Shanghai. Also contributed to the team's triumph at the 2024 Asia Cup Baghdad, adding another gold to his accolades.
Abhishek Verma
Date of Birth: 26 June 1989 Place of Birth: India
Sports: Archery
Category: Compound
Major Achievements in 2024:
- Silver in GT OPEN
- World Cup Gold 2024 Shanghai (Mixed team)
- World Cup Gold 2024 Shanghai (Men's team)
A talented compound archer, consistently delivering on the global stage for India. Bagged gold at the 2024 Shanghai World Cup in the Mixed Team and Men's Team events. Won silver at the prestigious GT Open, reinforcing his dominance in compound archery.
Divyansh Chaudhary
Date of Birth: 19 June, 2006
Place of Birth: Haryana
Sports: Archery
Category: Compound
Major Achievement in 2024:
- Silver in NTPC Senior Compound Archery
Rising compound archer from India with a flair for precision. Earned a silver medal at the NTPC Senior Compound Archery in 2024, showcasing his growing potential. A name to watch in the Indian archery circuit for future success.
Archer of the Year: Women
Deepika Kumari
Date of Birth: 13 June 1994
Place of Birth: Ranchi, Jharkhand
Sports: Archery
Category: Recurve
Major Achievements in 2024:
- World Cup Silver 2024 Tlaxcala (Individual)
- World Cup Gold 2024 Shanghai (Individual)
- Asia Cup Silver 2024 Baghdad (Individual)
- Asia Cup Silver 2024 Baghdad (Women's team)
A renowned recurve archer from Ranchi, excelling on the international stage for years. She clinched gold in the 2024 Shanghai World Cup (Individual) and silver in Tlaxcala (Individual) and Asia Cup Baghdad. Her consistent performance in individual and team events cements her status as a top contender globally.
Bhajan Kaur
Date of Birth: 26 August 2005
Place of Birth: Ellenabad, Haryana
Sports: Archery
Category: Recurve
Major Achievements in 2024:
- Olympic Qualifier 2024 Gold (Individual)
- World Cup Bronze 2024 Antalya (Mixed team)
- Asia Cup Gold 2024 Baghdad (Women's team)
A rising talent from Ellenabad, Haryana, competing in the recurve category. She won gold at the 2024 Olympic Qualifier (Individual) and Asia Cup Baghdad (Women's Team). She secured a bronze medal in the Mixed Team event at the Antalya World Cup, showcasing her potential at a young age.
Ankita Bhakat
Date of Birth: 17 June 1998
Place of Birth: Kolkata
Sports: Archery
Category: Recurve
Major Achievements in 2024:
- Taipei Archery Open Bronze (Individual)
- World Cup Bronze 2024 Shanghai (Mixed team)
Ankita Bhakat, born on 17 June 1998 in Kolkata, is a promising recurve archer representing India with pride and skill. In 2024, she earned a bronze medal at the Taipei Archery Open (Individual) and the World Cup Shanghai (Mixed Team). Ankita’s achievements underscore her contributions to India's growing reputation in international archery competitions. Her performances continue to strengthen her standing as an essential member of the Indian archery team.
Jyothi Surekha Vennam
Date of Birth: 13 June 1994
Place of Birth: Challapalli, Andhra Pradesh
Sports: Archery
Category: Compound
Major Achievements in 2024:
- Taipei Archery Open Gold (Individual)
- GT Open (Individual)
- World Cup Gold 2024 Shanghai (Individual)
- World Cup Silver 2024 Yecheon (Mixed team)
- World Cup Gold 2024 Shanghai (Mixed team)
Jyothi Surekha Vennam, born on 13 June 1994 in Challapalli, Andhra Pradesh, is a highly accomplished compound archer from India. She won gold medals in the 2024 Shanghai World Cup (Individual and Mixed Team) and the Taipei Archery Open (Individual). Jyothi also secured a silver medal in the Yecheon World Cup (Mixed Team), showcasing her consistent international success. Her outstanding achievements reflect her dedication and skill, making her one of the top compound archers globally.
Aditi Swami
Date of Birth: 13 June 1994
Place of Birth: Satara, Maharashtra Sports: Archery
Category: Compound
Aditi Swami, born on 13 June 1994 in Satara, Maharashtra, is a dominant figure in Indian compound archery. In 2024, she won gold medals in the Women's Team events at the Yecheon, Antalya, and Shanghai World Cups. She also secured an individual bronze, a mixed team gold, and a women's team silver at the Asia Cup Baghdad. Aditi’s remarkable performances firmly establish her as a leading archer in the compound category.
Major Achievements in 2024:
- Asia Cup Bronze 2024 Baghdad (Individual)
- Asia Cup Gold 2024 Baghdad (Mixed team)
- Asia Cup Silver 2024 Baghdad (Women's team)
- World Cup Gold 2024 Yecheon (Women's team)
- World Cup Gold 2024 Antalya (Women's team)
- World Cup Gold 2024 Shanghai (Women's team)
Para Archer of the Year-Men
Harvinder Singh
Date of Birth: February 25, 1991
Place of Birth: Kaithal, Haryana
Sport: Para Archery
Major Achievements in 2024:
- 2024: Paris Paralympics - Individual recurve open - Gold
- 2024: Para Archery World Ranking event - Individual recurve open - Bronze
- 2024: World Archery Oceania Para Grand Prix - Individual recurve open - Bronze
- Award: Padmashri in 2025
Harvinder Singh is a trailblazing para archer who etched his name in history by clinching the gold medal in the individual recurve open event at the 2024 Paris Paralympics. His stellar year also saw him winning bronze at the Para Archery World Ranking event and the World Archery Oceania Para Grand Prix. Harvinder’s remarkable achievements earned him the prestigious Padma Shri award in 2025. A symbol of resilience and determination, he continues to inspire countless aspiring athletes with his dedication and passion for archery.
Rakesh Kumar
Date of Birth: January 13, 1985
Place of Birth: Katra, Jammu, Jammu and Kashmir
Sport: Para Archery
Major Achievements in 2024:
- 2024: Paris Paralympics - Mixed team compound - Bronze
Rakesh Kumar is a distinguished para archer who showcased his exceptional talent on the global stage by winning a bronze medal in the mixed team compound event at the 2024 Paris Paralympics. Hailing from Katra, Jammu, his journey reflects unwavering determination and perseverance.
Shyam Sunder Swami
Date of Birth: 1997
Place of Birth: Rajasthan
Sport: Para Archery
Major Achievements in 2024:
Represented India at Paris 2024 Paralympics in Men's individual event
Shyam Sundar Swami is a talented Indian archer who has risen to prominence with his exceptional skills and determination. Born in Rajasthan in 1997, Shyam has been an inspiring figure in the sport of archery, showcasing incredible focus and resilience. In 2024, he represented India in the Men’s Individual Archery event at the Paris Paralympics.
Para Archer of the Year-Women
Sheetal Devi
Date of Birth: January 10, 2007
Place of Birth: Loidhar, Kishtwar, Jammu and Kashmir
Sport: Para Archery
Major Achievements in 2024:
- 2024: Paris Paralympics - Mixed team - Bronze
- 2024: Received Arjuna Award
Sheetal Devi is a rising star in Indian archery, hailing from the picturesque region of Kishtwar in Jammu and Kashmir.
Born on January 10, 2007, she has already made a significant mark on the international stage. In 2024, Sheetal showcased her exceptional talent by clinching a bronze medal in the Mixed Team event at the Paris Paralympics. Her remarkable performances earned her the prestigious Arjuna Award the same year.
Sarita Adhana
Date of Birth: January 1, 1987
Place of Birth:
Sport: Archery
Major Achievements in 2024:
- Represented India at Paris 2024 Paralympics in women's individual event
- She lost in the quarterfinals at Paris Paralympics
Sarita Adhana is a distinguished para-archer from India, known for her remarkable skills and perseverance. Born on January 1, 1987, she has represented India on the international stage with immense pride. In 2024, Sarita competed at the Paris Paralympics, showcasing her talent in the Women’s Individual Archery event. Although she was knocked out in the quarterfinals, her performance at the prestigious event was a testament to her dedication and determination.
