Stage set for inter-Asia indoor archery meet

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Members of Sibu Archery Association, headed by president Tiong Kiong King (centre), after the meeting. Tiong’s deputy Eric and Wong are at respective sixth and seventh left.

SIBU: Two novice teams from Selangor and one junior squad from Kuching have confirmed participation for the tenth Sarawak Indoor Archery Championships, scheduled on Nov 22 to 24 at Catholic High School Basketball Stadium here.

Sarawak Archery Association (Pemasa) secretary-general Chong Yap Jin was confident that they would receive more entries from outstation teams soon.

According to him, invites have already been sent to archery associations from some Asian countries, including Singapore, Thailand, Brunei, Indonesia, Taiwan and Hong Kong.

“Closer to home, we will have contenders from Sabah and the peninsula, Labuan as well as Pemasa members from here, Kuching, Sarikei, Bintulu, Limbang and Lawas,” he said in a statement.

The three-day tournament would see competitors undergoing team and individual elimination rounds, before proceeding to gold medal matches.

It would be further divided into six Men’s and Women’s categories, namely Recurve Bow, Compound Bow and Novice. Fees per entry are RM30, RM60 and RM65, depending on categories.

The top three individual and team placing of every category, except Novice, would receive medals.

Separately, the first archer who hits 300 points out of 30 arrows in the first and second-half of the qualifiers would be rewarded with RM1,000, while the coveted Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing Challenge Cup would be lifted by those collecting the highest total points across all team events.

Meanwhile, Sibu Archery Association recently held a meeting to look into preparations for the tournament.

Organising chairman Eric Tiong further called on more locals to take up the sport.

“Our national archers have been performing well internationally – we even qualified for the Olympics. As such, we want more archers who can make our country proud.”

Tiong said locals, especially youths, who took up archery would not only learn about discipline, but also have the opportunities to represent the state at various competitions, including the Malaysia Games.

“The upcoming Sarawak Indoor Archery Championships for the first time here and hopefully, it would generate interest among the youths to take up the sport,” Eric said.

The local association previously staged outdoor championships in 2004 and 2009 here, but this year’s indoor meet would be their first.

Registration forms can be obtained from Chong at 013-803 5630, Tiong (016-868 6817) or association’s treasurer Simon Wong (013-816 1659).

Closing date is Nov 7.