Legendary South Korea Coach Park Chae-soon is likely to join as new recurve head coach to spearhead India’s campaign for the Los Angeles 2028 Games. Park is expected to take charge after the 2026 Asian Games.
The Archery Association of India shortlisted the multiple Olympic gold medal-winning coach Park after ‘advanced talks’ on Saturday.
The decision came after negotiations with compatriot Kisik Lee fell through over financial differences, with him demanding a monthly salary of USD 20,000, excluding taxes.
“His one-hour Zoom interview with the Archery Association of India has gone positively and AAI is quite convinced of him. We are contemplating bringing him on board after the Asian Games,” a top official was quoted as saying by the PTI.
“The Asian Games are too short a time frame and we need some time to complete the formalities. By November he should come on board. We are looking at a contract till LA 2028, but he is keen to continue beyond the Ahmedabad 2030 Commonwealth Games and till the Brisbane Olympics in 2032,” the source said.
This is AAI’s second attempt to onboard an elite foreign recurve coach after Baek Woong Ki stepped down following the Paris Olympics.
Park, 61, is one of the most accomplished coaches in world archery.
A former South Korean international archer, Park has been part of Korea’s golden era, serving as coach of the London 2012 Olympic women’s team, the Rio 2016 Olympic men’s team, before being elevated as the overall head coach of the Korean national team for the Tokyo Olympics.
Park also built a formidable programme at Gwangju Metropolitan City Hall, where he served as head coach from 2003 to 2021. During his stint, his archers amassed an extraordinary 573 medals, comprising 173 international and 400 domestic medals.
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