Abhishek Verma named to inaugural World Games athletes committee

Indian world number nine Abhishek Verma has been named as one of the seven founding members of the International World Games Association’s athletes committee.

The 33-year-old has served on World Archery’s equivalent body since 2021.

Introduced into the governance structure of the World Games to represent the voice of athletes in the organisation’s decision-making, the inaugural group is responsible for organising the first open athlete elections at the next edition of the multisport event in Chengdu in 2025.

As well as archery, the sports of flying disc, racquetball, floorball, dancesport and powerlifting are represented on the committee, which is chaired by newly-retired Spanish karate athlete Sandra Sanchez.

“We put the athletes and their needs at the centre,” said International World Games Association president José Peruana. “This… is another step on the way to putting this principle into practice.”

Verma is a two-time Hyundai Archery World Cup stage winner.

He has competed at two editions of the World Games, in 2017 and 2022, collecting a bronze medal in the mixed team event with Jyothi Surekha Vennam and finishing fourth individually last year in Birmingham.

Verma is a member of the Indian reserve team for 2023.