Unpaid For Months, Archery Coach Who Led India’s Asian Games Medal Haul Threatens To Quit

Last Updated:October 09, 2026, 5:24 PM IST

American archery coach Dave Cousins threatened to quit over unpaid salary, but AAI and SAI stated the technical bank issue has been resolved and payment is processing.

Indian archery coach Dave Cousins.

(World Archery)

American coach Dave Cousins, who guided India’s compound archers to a historic Olympic quota at the Asian Games, has reportedly threatened to quit after going unpaid for more than three months. However, the Archery Association of India (AAI) and the Sports Authority of India (SAI) have said the issue was a ‘technical’ one ‘with the bank’ and has been resolved.

A former world No. 1, Cousins took over from Sergio Pagni, under whom India won all five archery gold medals at the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou, and was appointed India’s chief compound coach in May to prepare the team for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics. A PTI report said that the 49-year-old was unhappy with the delay and had threatened to leave the country if his salary was not paid.

“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,” AAI treasurer Joris Paulose Ummacheril told PTI.

A SAI official also attributed the delay to a technical problem with the bank, adding that the payment was being processed.

Cousins made an immediate impact, helping India win three gold and one bronze medal at the Asian Games. The country finished with five gold, two silver and two bronze medals across compound and recurve archery.

The biggest achievement came in the compound mixed-team event, where Sahil Jadhav and Chikitha Taniparthi defeated South Korea in a shoot-off after the final ended 157-157. Their victory secured India its first-ever Olympic quota in compound archery, where the mixed-team event will debut at the 2028 Los Angeles Games. Cousins also guided 18-year-old Prithika Pradeep to her maiden World Cup bronze at the Madrid stage in Spain.

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Why did archery coach Dave Cousins threaten to quit his position with India?

American coach Dave Cousins reportedly threatened to quit and leave the country after going unpaid for more than three months. The Archery Association of India and the Sports Authority of India attributed the delay to a technical issue with the bank.

How did the Archery Association of India and SAI respond to the salary payment delay?

AAI treasurer Joris Paulose Ummacheril stated that the payment issue had been worked out and would be cleared within two days, while a SAI official confirmed that the payment was being processed following a technical problem with the bank.

What major achievements did Dave Cousins help India accomplish as chief compound coach?

Dave Cousins guided India to a historic Olympic quota in compound archery at the Asian Games after winning the mixed-team event, helped the team secure three gold and one bronze medal at the games, and coached 18-year-old Prithika Pradeep to a World Cup bronze in Madrid.

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