Archer sets sights on Olympics after World Cup win

Ajay Scott practices his skills at a vineyard on a farm in Faversham

Compound archer Ajay Scott is hopeful a recent World Cup win for Great Britain will take him to the Olympics in 2028.

Scott, and his world number one team mate, Ella Gibson, became Archery World Cup stage 2 mixed team champions in Shanghai, as it was confirmed the discipline will be included in the Los Angeles line-up.

Scott grew up in Worthing, West Sussex, but now lives in Whitstable, Kent, and practices at a vineyard on a farm in Faversham.

On the success in Shanghai, he said: "It was like a breath of fresh air, all the hard work that has gone into it, it all came together at the right moment, especially on the back of the Olympic announcement."

"It's a big statement we made in China," he added.

The gold medal has solidified GB's position as one of the teams to look out for ahead of the Los Angeles Games in 2028, and after this win, they have also shot up to second in the world compound mixed team ranking.

"You can tell everyone is really going for it now in the mixed team, it means a lot more now, with LA in the near future," said Scott.

"This is the highlight of my career so far, this one takes the biscuit."

Scott took a liking to the sport after a trip to Bodiam Castle, in East Sussex, with his father as a child

After being taken to a medieval re-enactment at Bodiam Castle by his father when he was a child, Scott took a liking to the sport straight away.

"They had a long bow there. I really enjoyed it, I picked up a recurve a year later but then moved to compound," he said.

"I remember the day clearly, there was jousting, long bow shooting, it was really cool."

It was a full circle moment for his dad, who he called first after the World Cup win in China.

"I called him afterwards, I was screaming down the phone, he'd stayed up with the time difference, bless him!"

Scott now practices at Brogdale Farm in Faversham, on a vineyard, but prior to that, he was a member of the Canterbury Archers.

Glyn Levis, who was his first coach there, said: "He's still the holder of 33 records at the club. Some of them will never be beaten I don't think.

"He's a nice chap, he's completely chilled out, relaxed.

"It doesn't matter if it's shooting for a medal or practicing in this field, he's the same."

Studying at the University of Kent alongside this accolade has proved a difficult juggling act.

"I remember in Florida I was going out to shoot, then writing my dissertation in the same day," said Scott.

But he is now hopeful he'll be able to give the next Olympic cycle his full focus.

"Shanghai proved we'll be competitive, we've got potential to win a medal, so from now until then it's a lot of hard work and lots of repetitions," he said.