The Indoor World Series (IWS) is World Archery's premier indoor competition circuit, consisting of elite events held at iconic venues across Europe and the Americas. In early 2026, I had the privilege of competing at the Nîmes IWS — one of the oldest and most respected indoor archery events in the world, held annually in the south of France. Here is what competing at that level looks and feels like.
What is the Indoor World Series?
The IWS consists of approximately 5–6 events each indoor season (roughly October to February), concluding with a finals event. Points earned across the circuit determine seeding for finals and contribute to World Archery athlete rankings. Events include Nîmes (France), Las Vegas (USA), Yankton (USA via NFAA Indoor Nationals), and others at rotating venues.
The Nîmes Experience
Nîmes is one of archery's "bucket list" competitions. The venue — a massive stadium in Nîmes, France — holds thousands of spectators who create an electric, Festival-like atmosphere rarely found at archery events. Archers compete under intense lighting, in front of crowd noise that requires mental resilience of a different order than a quiet club practice. Competitors come from over 60 countries, representing the absolute highest indoor shooting standard in the world.
At Nîmes 2026, I shot alongside India's national team archers — Deepika Kumari, Harvinder Singh, and others — as well as world-ranked competitors from Europe and the Americas. Posting a 566/600 qualification score in that field was an experience that reflected years of competitive preparation.
How to Qualify for IWS Events
Most IWS events are invitation-based at the elite level, but many include open qualification rounds where any registered World Archery athlete can compete. Entry is through the event's official website and requires a current World Archery athlete ID. To compete competitively, you should be shooting scores within the competitive tier for your division — for recurve men's open, scores above 570/600 are typically competitive at most events.
What Competing on the World Stage Teaches You
Competing internationally — against the world's best, in a foreign environment, under maximum pressure — teaches you things about your archery that no domestic event can replicate. Your mental game, pre-competition routine, and ability to execute under conditions of genuine uncertainty are all tested in new ways. Even if you don't podium, the experience accelerates your development in ways that are hard to overstate.
Train for International Competition
Book elite-level coaching with Lalit Jain — IWS competitor and NFAA National Champion — to develop the skills needed for international-level archery competition.