As we kick off a new year, archery enthusiasts can look forward to an exciting line-up of international competitions. The 2023 calendar includes three world championships, various continental championship events, and the beginning of the Olympic and Paralympic Games qualification period. These are some of the must-see tournaments to keep an eye out for in the coming months.
- Olympic Test Event – 15-20 August 2023
In 2023, archery enthusiasts will have the opportunity to get a glimpse of what the archery venue for the Paris 2024 Olympics will be like. The Hyundai Archery World Cup stage final in Paris, held at Invalides, will serve as a test event for the upcoming Olympics, providing a preview of what to expect.
- World University Games – 27-31 July 2023
The World University Games, also known as the Universiade, is a major international sporting event that brings together student athletes from different countries. The event has gained popularity among archers, as many of the emerging young talents in the sport are of university age. Additionally, many of the current top archers are student athletes. Due to pandemic-related delays, the event has not been held in recent years, with Chengdu originally scheduled to host in 2021. In 2023, the World University Games will be held just before the World Archery Championships, making it intriguing to see how many archers will participate in both events.
- Hermosillo – 9-10 September 2023
Mexico will host the Hyundai Archery World Cup Final for the second consecutive year. The country is renowned for its excellent archery facilities and the Mexican crowd is sure to be out in full force, especially in Hermosillo – the hometown of Olympic medalist Alejandra Valencia. The home team will likely receive significant support from the local community.
- Asian Games – 1-8 October 2023
Out of all the continental events scheduled for 2023, the Asian Games are the biggest. Initially planned for 2022, but postponed due to the pandemic, the event features more participating countries than the Olympics, including some of the top nations in archery such as Korea, Chinese Taipei, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Japan, among others. With the event taking place in China, specifically in Hangzhou, we can expect intense competition for podium finishes.
- World Archery Championships – 1-6 August 2023
The World Archery Championships, the most significant archery-only competition on the calendar, takes on added significance in the lead-up to the Olympic Games, as it serves as the primary event for Olympic qualification. This year, in addition to the world titles being awarded, the critical moments of quota place qualification will also be broadcasted. The competition venue in Berlin, located near the Olympic Stadium, will provide a dramatic setting for an already dramatic event.
Calendar highlights in 2023
January/February
20-22 January: Sud de France Archery Tournament – Nimes, France
22 January: Indoor Archery World Series Youth Finals – Nimes, France
3-5 February: Vegas Shoot – Las Vegas, USA
4 February: Indoor Archery World Series Finals – Las Vegas, USA
March/April
14-19 March: Asia Cup stage 1 – Taipei, Chinese Taipei
3-8 April: European Grand Prix stage 1 – Lilleshall, Great Britain
13-16 April: Oceania Championships – Adelaide, Australia
18-23 April: Hyundai Archery World Cup stage 1 – Antalya, Türkiye
May/June
16-21 May: Hyundai Archery World Cup stage 2 – Shanghai, China
5-10 June: Asia Cup stage 2 – Singapore
13-18 June: Hyundai Archery World Cup stage 3 – Medellin, Colombia
23-29 June: European Games – Krakow, Poland
July/August
1-9 July: World Archery Youth Championships – Limerick, Ireland
17-23 July: World Archery Para Championships – Pilsen, Czech Republic
27-31 July: World University Games – Chengdu, China
1-6 August: Hyundai World Archery Championships – Berlin, Germany
15-20 August: Hyundai Archery World Cup stage 4 – Paris, France
September/October
9-10 September: Hyundai Archery World Cup Final – Hermosillo, Mexico
1-8 October: Asian Games – Hangzhou, China
November/December
1-5 November: Pan American Games – Santiago, Chile
4-12 November: Asian Championships – Bangkok, Thailand