Preview: Baghdad hosts 20+ countries for 2024 Asia Cup opener

Second-tier international tournaments are traditionally the proving ground for up-and-comers – often a chance for a B-team to gain valuable major event experience.

India didn’t get the memo.

World Archery Champion Aditi Swami, Olympic quota place winner Dhiraj Bommadevara and the country’s best-known athlete in the sport – you know who – are all on the entry list for this week’s Asia Cup tilt in Iraq.

Deepika Kumari became a mother at the end of 2022 and missed out on the team in 2023.

The former world number one and 2010 Commonwealth Games Champion is back early in 2024, having topped the first round of national trials in January. (The final selection event is scheduled for 10-17 March in Sonepat.)

With two team quota places to the upcoming Olympics being awarded on world ranking, India has its top squad on a plane to Baghdad and a tickets to Paris squarely in its sights.

Key information

What’s happening? The opening leg of this year’s Asia Cup, which comprise the continent’s recognised circuit of second-tier international events, on 21-25 February 2024 in Baghdad, Iraq.

What’s at stake? World ranking points.

Who’s competing? About 120 archers from more than 20 countries.

What’s the story? Expect bigger teams like India and Bangladesh to dominate – especially with their top teams – in Baghdad. World ranking points are critical in Olympic qualifying so accruing finishes at these continental tournaments is important, particularly for teams on the fringe of the quota race.

Schedule

• Wednesday 21 February: Qualifying
• Thursday 22 February: Team eliminations
• Friday 23 February: Eliminations
• Saturday 24 February: Compound finals
• Sunday 25 February: Finals

How to watch

Watch live footage exclusively on archery+ (free). Live scores will be available on the World Archery website and there will be coverage on World Archery’s digital platforms throughout the competition. Check Facebook, Instagram and X for more.

Who’s competing?

Full entries are available online. These are the top-ranked archers shooting in Baghdad:

• Recurve men: Dhiraj Bommadevara, India (world rank: 14)
• Recurve women: Bhajan Kaur, India (world rank: 37)
• Compound men: Prathamesh Jawkar, India (world rank: 6)
• Compound women: Aditi Swami, India (world rank: 8)

Former world number one Deepika Kumari has also returned to the Indian team.

Competition at the Asia Cup in Baghdad starts on Wednesday.