India
Archery
Abhishek Verma, born on June 26, 1989, in New Delhi, India, is a distinguished Indian archer specializing in compound archery. His journey began in 2002 during his school years when a physical training teacher introduced him to the sport. Over the years, his dedication and skill have established him as a prominent figure in international archery. Verma’s career is adorned with numerous accolades. At the 2014 Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea, he secured a gold medal in the men’s compound team event and a silver in the individual category. He continued his success by clinching gold in the compound men’s individual section at the 2015 Archery World Cup Stage 3 in Wroclaw, and a silver at the World Cup Final in Mexico City the same year. His achievements extend to the World Archery Championships, where he earned a silver medal in the mixed team event in 2021. In the Asian Archery Championships, Verma has been a formidable competitor, securing multiple medals, including golds in individual, team, and mixed team events across various years. In 2022, Verma, in partnership with Jyothi Surekha Vennam, won bronze in the compound mixed team event at The World Games held in Birmingham, USA. Beyond his sporting endeavours, Verma serves as an Assistant Commissioner in the Income Tax Department of India. His contributions to archery were recognized with the prestigious Arjuna Award in 2014 (national sporting award in India). He has also won a silver medal at the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta and a gold medal in the team event and a silver medal in the individual event in 2022 in Hangzhou. Verma’s journey reflects a blend of talent, hard work, and resilience, making him an inspiring figure in the realm of archery. His career-best world ranking is 3.
2014 onwards working in Income Tax Department, Government of India as Assistant Commissioner of Income Tax
Arjuna Awardee - 2014 , Government of India
17th Place in Individual Compound Archery at The World Games 2017; 4th Place (Individual) and 3rd Place (Mixed Team) in 2022
2nd Place in Mixed Team Compound Archery at the 2021 World Championships
1st Place in Individual Compound Archery at the 2023 World Cup; 1st Place in Men’s Team and Mixed Team in 2024
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Being part of the The World Games Athlete Committee is an opportunity to represent and advocate for athletes globally. My experience, insights, and passion for sports can help shape policies that improve training, competition, and welfare. It’s a platform to raise concerns, foster unity, and inspire the next generation. I aim to drive positive change, make the The World Games more athlete-centric, and leave a lasting legacy. My influence in my sporting community is strong and transparent.
I have been doing all formats of archery for the last 20 years and have gained knowledge about all of these. I hope this experience and knowledge would help me give back to the archery community by improving the standards of the sport.
As part of this committee, I got to know various rules and regulations of various committees and their functioning, as well as how to address the issues of athletes that were previously unheard. Now, as I am actively competing, athletes reach out to me, and I can bring their voices to the body. The information I’ve learned over the years I’ve spent playing and serving in this committee has given me a perspective to understand sports better, advocate for global athletes, and ensure sports are played fairly and events run smoothly.
My fellow archers should vote for me because I am deeply committed to the growth and success of archery and its athletes. With my experience at the highest levels of competition, I understand the challenges archers face—whether it’s access to better training facilities, fair policies, or increased global recognition for the sport. I can be their voice, ensuring their concerns are heard and addressed in The World Games Athletes' Committee. My leadership, dedication, and passion for archery will help drive meaningful change, creating better opportunities and a stronger future for all archers worldwide.
As archery is an expensive sport, one of my biggest challenges is simply letting people know about it and growing the sport in our country—taking it to the roots of every part of India.
I’ve had a passion for sport since childhood, which led me to pursue it professionally. I studied physical education in higher education, which gave me deeper insights into how sports events are organized and how to make them fair and enjoyable. My professional experience adds even more to this journey.
Sport has defined who I am. As a professional archer for 20 years, competing and winning at the highest levels has demanded immense dedication, sacrifice, and growth. Archery has instilled deep focus, patience, and mental strength—qualities that influence every part of my life. It’s also given me a global perspective, lifelong connections, and opportunities to mentor and give back to the sport.
Make the qualification process for The World Games understandable, transparent, and timely. Increase reach, media coverage, and attract sponsors. Educate people about The World Games and its equal importance to the Olympics.
Enthusiastic, influential, hard-working
Exploring the world and learning new things that help me grow as a person.
I have been playing sports professionally for 20 years, and I know how it feels to be unheard or not able to get proper solutions to the issues athletes face. I don’t want anyone to have such experiences, and I want to make the sporting experience easier and better for the next generation.
