Youth Olympic Games-bound Bianca Roxas-Chua Gotuaco captured the United States national junior outdoor archery women’s championship at Joyce Park in Hamilton, Ohio recently.
The 16-year-old Gotuaco drubbed Chinese Taipei’s Tsai Chia-yun, 6-2, in the finals to win the tournament that drew an international field of 31 archers.
Coming from the bottom of the draw, Gotuaco dumped Lee Woorin of California (6-0) in the first round before eliminating another Californian Judy Zhu (6-4) in the second round.
In the quarterfinals, the Batang Pinoy, Palarong Pambansa and Philippine National Games champion edged Karissa Yamaguchi of Arizona, 9-8. She made the finals with a 6-0 domination of Elizabeth Caughell of Washington.
The tourney is one of the last tune-up events for Gotuaco who, along with Gabby Moreno, will don the national colors in the YOG in Nanjing, China, later this month.
Before YOG, Gotuaco will also see action in the Seoul Festa Invitational in South Korea, along with other members of the national junior team.
Members of the PH team also competed in the Ohio meet including Andrea Orbeta who wound up tied for 17th place.
Caughell finished third, Canada’s Tessa Lehman fourth, and Texan Paige Hill fifth.
Gotuaco and 15-year-old Moreno grabbed outright YOG berths after topping their respective events in the qualifiers last year in Chinese Taipei. Marc Anthony Reyes