Li Jiaman: Time to shine bright

In 2024, Li Jiaman won the Hyndai Archery World Cup Final at her first attempt, scything through a top class field including Korea’s Jeon Hunyoung and thrashing an unfortunate Deepika Kumari – now a five-time bridesmaid – in straight sets on the Tlaxcala stage.

It came on top of a remarkable year for the 27-year-old, where she matched Kang Chaeyoung’s world record for the ranking round at the Chinese national trials, took an individual bronze at the Asian Games, and a team silver medal at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. All this a long ten years after her international major, winning individual gold at the Youth Olympic Games in Nanjing in 2014 – and, lest we forget, the mixed team gold too. 

Of course, the Chinese women’s team did not come to Paris for a silver medal. They were even whispered about in some circles as the favourites for the title, ahead of a rookie Korean team they had already beaten on the circuit.

Li was anchoring the team on that sweltering day in Paris – and the pressure seemed to get to her. Of course it did not happen – although China came closer than anyone has previously to dethroning the ladies in white from yet another milestone, forcing one of the tensest shoot-offs ever seen. It was there for the taking – and they knew it.

It’s been the story more than once with Li as a senior contender: almost, not quite, just missed out. (Li’s first individual Olympic campaign ended in the third round at the hands of Alejandra Valencia.)

In 2025, she will step out in Florida. With Korea absent from the start line in the USA, she might well be the favourite for individual gold. 

The astonishing display of confidence at the World Cup Final win was, however, a different Li – someone who had clearly bounced back from the disappointments in Paris.

Li has never been loquacious to the archery press and getting a sense of the real her is tricky, with the Chinese federation remaining relatively tight-lipped compared to the other Asian powerhouse teams.

“It’s an honour to be part of this World Cup, to win this World Cup,” she said after the win in Tlaxcala. “Now, I’m going to work even harder after that.”

She is also showing leadership at team level, as the senior member of recent Chinese teams – as in Korea, an example is expected to be set by the eldest and most experienced hands. 

Of course, the Hyundai Archery World Cup Final is being held in Nanjing, China this year, the final major in an Asia-focused 2025 calendar. No recurve woman has won back-to-back finals since Ki Bo Bae in 2016 and 2017. Could it happen?

Chinese archery, despite a long history of achievement at the highest level, has never quite dominated. Perhaps it will take another breakthrough by an archer to spearhead the next renaissance in the country – and perhaps that archer is Li Jiaman.