Meet Rishabh Yadav: India’s Compound Archery Hope Ahead Of The Asian Games

Last Updated:April 21, 2026, 23:30 IST

From junior breakthrough to senior success, archer Rishabh Yadav eyes the Asian Games, fuelled by mentor Abhishek Verma and Olympic dreams in compound archery.

2025 was a remarkable year in 23-year-old Rishabh Yadav’s archery career. He finished on the podium eight times in three competitions, across disciplines. He won two individual bronze medals, two gold and one bronze in men’s team events and a gold, a silver and a bronze apiece in mixed team events.

Fast forward to 2026 and the upcoming season could prove to be one of the most significant in Rishabh’s career. With the Asian Games just under five months away, the youngster is preparing to participate in what could be the biggest tournament of his journey till now.

Having picked up archery during his school days to increase focus in studies, Rishabh started compound archery after seeing his mentor Abhishek (Verma) bhaiya, a senior figure on the Indian sports circuit who has played a crucial role in Rishabh’s career.

The youngster recalls a key moment when Abhishek, himself an Asian Games silver medallist, offered him valuable advice during the 2021 World Youth Championships, Rishabh’s first breakthrough event, where he went on to win bronze.

“In 2021, the bronze medal I won came at the Junior World Championships, my first and last appearance in that event. On the morning of the individual rounds, as the competition was about to start, I received a call from Abhishek bhaiya," Rishabh narrates during an interaction with News18 Sports. 

“It was a memorable interaction. He told me that I should think like a senior, not a junior and approach the event without hesitation, either give it everything or stay till the end, but not exit midway out of doubt," Rishabh adds.

The 23-year-old says that the advice stayed with him and after winning the first match, Rishabh went into the second with much greater confidence, shooting a perfect 150 out of 150.

From that point, Rishabh felt that there was no turning back and it became a very special day for him.

“Since then, a lot has changed. I have transitioned into the senior circuit and started competing alongside athletes I once looked up to and drew inspiration from to take up archery in the first place," Rishabh says.

The archer trains at the Inspire Institute of Sport in Vijayanagar and explained how they have helped him stay fit and fine while providing him with all the requirements.

“I believe it was last April when we started working at the Inspire Institute of Sports and they have been supporting me since then. Throughout the year, we worked hand in hand on all the required areas, whether it was the physiological, mental, or nutritional aspects," Rishabh says.

Asked how he undergoes his mental training, the archer adds, “I strongly believe in visualisation, as it is something I have been practising for a while and it has always helped me. Alongside that, we incorporate breathing exercises with the technical aspects of our training, so the process is done in sync with controlled breathing."

“This helps me stay calm under pressure and maintain my heart rate. The S&C team working with me has also been guiding me through different programs to help regulate my heart rate and take care of my cardiovascular health," Rishabh says.

Rishabh’s partnership with Asian Games gold medallist Jyothi Surekha Vennam has been hugely successful. All of his mixed team medals have come alongside Jyothi. So what makes this partnership so successful?

“I believe what makes us most successful is our strong communication and the trust we have in each other. She never treats me like a junior or makes me feel incapable; instead, she brings her experience, guides me and supports me throughout," Rishabh says.

“When she is calling the shots or guiding me while I am on anchor, I fully trust her judgment rather than questioning it or trying to do things on my own. That level of trust, combined with open communication where we can discuss everything freely, is the key reason why we perform so well together," Rishabh adds.

The youngster has been mentored for a long time by Abhishek, who has taken part in three Asian Games and has medalled in all. So does the latter share his experiences of the continental event with Rishabh?

“On the coaching front, he (Abhishek) is always there to help me with the technical aspects. Beyond that, visualisation and the mental side are tailored differently for every major event and I have gained valuable insights from him in those areas as well," Rishabh says.

“I remember competing against him at the World Games last year, we lost in the semi-finals, but even then, he continued to guide me for the next match, despite being my opponent," Rishabh adds.

The archer said that it was a massive source of motivation for him. He added that, looking ahead, he saw the Asian Games as a chance for Rishabh and Abhishek to be part of it together, with the trials coming up.

Rishabh also noted that it was a continuous process and not something that could be discussed in a single sitting.

“Every day, I gain a little more knowledge and experience, and that is what keeps guiding me towards my goals," Rishabh says.

Meanwhile, compound archery is all set to make its Olympic debut at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics, with a mixed team event included in the program. The addition introduces a sixth medal event in archery and marks the first time a new bow style has been incorporated since 1972.

The move is expected to boost both visibility and funding for the discipline. How does Rishabh see the move?

“I am really happy because compound archery was often overlooked, both in India and globally, since it was not part of the Olympics. People used to question why I chose it," Rishabh says.

“But now that it is included in the Olympic program, there are far more opportunities and a clear future to look forward to. I believe this will drive significant growth in the sport and that motivates me to work towards that one big goal," Rishabh concludes.

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