NEW DELHI: India’s compound archers made history at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games by becoming the first nation to secure an Olympic quota in the discipline. But while the team celebrated a landmark achievement and a rich medal haul, the foreign coach who helped guide them to success was left unhappy over a salary delay stretching beyond three months.American Dave Cousins, appointed as India’s chief compound archery coach in May, is learnt to have threatened to quit and leave the country if his pending dues were not cleared, as per a PTI report.The development has raised questions about the support extended to a coach who has already delivered significant results as India builds towards the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics. However, the Archery Association of India (AAI) and the Sports Authority of India (SAI) have acknowledged the delay, attributing it to a technical issue and saying the matter has now been resolved, with the payment expected to be cleared shortly.“He has spoken to some officials and said if the dues are not cleared he’s leaving home. He’s really unhappy with the way he’s been treated for three months… he’s not been paid so far,” sources told PTI.
A historic breakthrough, but a salary dispute
Cousins helped India win three gold medals and a bronze in compound archery at the Asian Games, contributing to the country’s overall haul of five gold, two silver and two bronze across recurve and compound events.The biggest breakthrough came in the mixed-team event, where the relatively unfancied Indian pair of Sahil Jadhav and Chikitha Taniparthi stunned South Korea in a shoot-off after the final was tied 157-157 over four ends. The victory secured India its first-ever Olympic quota in compound archery, a discipline that will feature a mixed-team event at the 2028 Los Angeles Games.Cousins had taken charge of India’s compound programme with the responsibility of building a competitive unit for the Olympics. His results at the Asian Games came with a group that had faced questions about its ability to deliver at the highest level.The American had also guided 18-year-old Prithika Pradeep to her maiden World Cup bronze at the Madrid stage in Spain.Reflecting on India’s Asian Games campaign, Cousins had stressed that preparation, rather than medal predictions, was the team’s priority.“The only thing we were willing to commit to is that our athletes would go prepared and that they would execute the process as best they could,” he had said.“When the training is right, the preparation is right and the ecosystem is right, these are the results you get. We’re exceptionally happy to clinch the first-ever compound archery spot for the Olympic Games. That’s a huge thing for us right now.”
Sahil Jadhav and Chikitha Taniparthi with team coach Dave Cousins during the Asian Games. (PTI Photo)
AAI, SAI say payment will be cleared soon
AAI treasurer Dr Joris Paulose Ummacheril acknowledged the delay but said the issue had been resolved and the payment would be made shortly.“There was some issue with the Sports Authority of India (SAI), so the payment got delayed. But it has all been worked out, and it will be paid within two days,” Joris told PTI.An SAI official in New Delhi also attributed the delay to a technical problem involving the bank, adding that the matter was being processed.“We have already spoken to him and assured him that the payment is under process. It got delayed because of a technical issue with the bank, and it should be done within a couple of days,” the official said.The assurances suggest that the dispute could be resolved soon, although the episode has highlighted the administrative challenges that can undermine the momentum generated by sporting success.
Building towards LA 2028
Cousins, 49, is a former world No. 1 who won World Archery Championship titles in 1999 and 2003. His appointment in May followed the departure of Sergio Pagni, under whom India swept all five archery gold medals at the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou.Meanwhile, the federation is also in talks with South Korean coach Park Chae-soon to take charge of India’s recurve programme ahead of LA 2028. Park, who coached South Korea’s women’s team at the London 2012 Olympics and men’s team at Rio 2016, is expected to join by December.With India’s archers building momentum towards the next Olympics, Cousins’ contribution has already produced a landmark result in compound archery. The historic quota and multiple Asian Games medals have strengthened India’s prospects in a discipline making its Olympic debut in Los Angeles.
