The 24-year-old, a member of the Henan Provincial Archery Team, became dissatisfied with her progress in the Olympic discipline and decided to try compound. Even before the discipline’s Olympic inclusion, the move was beginning to pay dividends.
While studying at Huanghe Science and Technology University, Ma earned selection to China’s compound women’s team for the Chengdu 2021 Summer World University Games. Alongside Wang Yuanyuan and Zhou Jiayu, she came agonisingly close to an international medal before losing the bronze-medal match to Chinese Taipei, 224-226.
Several members of China’s current compound squad have followed a similar path from recurve, including Zhang Xinyan, Ding Yiliang – both finalists at the Nanjing 2025 Hyundai Archery World Cup Final – and Qi Xiangshuo.
Few, however, have adapted to the international stage as quickly as Ma.
Although she may not have realised it at the time, committing to compound while sporting logic still favoured recurve has – excuse the pun – put her ahead of the curve.
“I was enjoying a barbecue. I was thrilled when I heard the news,” Ma recalled of compound’s inclusion at LA28.
“I hadn’t really thought about it, but I genuinely love this sport. I’ve been consistently training, hoping to perform even better.”
Her patience is already being rewarded.
