The Indian women’s compound archery side was forced to miss the season-opening World Cup Stage 1 event in the USA due to a visa delay, a setback that ‘cost the team a medal’, believes national coach Jiwanjot Singh Teja.

World’s number one-ranked Indian women’s compound team, which won all the three gold medals that were up for grabs in 2024, failed to compete as three members -- world champion Aditi Swami Madhura Dhamangaonkar and Taniparthi Chikitha -- were unable to travel to Aurburndale, Florida, after failing to secure their US visas on time.

“It was a sure shot medal missed,” lamented Teja, who himself could not travel to the USA.

"We had a 100 percent chance in the women's team event. We won all three World Cup gold medals last year -- in Shanghai, Yecheon, and Antalya. Unfortunately, we couldn't defend our title this time," he told PTI.

In their absence, the Indian men’s compound team of Abhishek Verma, Ojas Deotale and Rishabh Yadav salvaged some pride, clinching a bronze medal on Wednesday.

Teja, a Dronacharya awardee in 2022, had guided Harvinder Singh to India’s first-ever Paralympic archery medal (bronze) in Tokyo in 2021.

He was again at the helm when Harvinder won a historic gold at the Paris Paralympics last year.

The absence of 18-year-old Aditi Swami, who became world champion in 2023 and won an Asian Games bronze the same year, was a big blow to India’s medal prospects in the individual section too.

Teja explained that the Archery Association of India (AAI) had foreseen the potential delay and acted swiftly by applying for a visa three months in advance.

“We conducted the selection trials three months ago, and right after announcing the squad, we applied for the US visas. We were aware of the appointment backlog,” Teja said.

Despite the efforts and follow-up with the US embassy and later the sports ministry, the visa appointments came very late -- on April 7 -- and the visas were issued on April 8, by which time the compound competition had already started.