Pinoy archers way off target
NANJING—Archer Bianca Roxas-Chua Gotuaco, sharp in practice, faltered in the actual competition against a lower-seeded rival while Luis Gabriel Moreno bowed out in archery’s Olympic round Saturday of the 2014 Youth Olympic Games.
On a humid and windless afternoon, the 16-year-old Gotuaco blew her medal bid against Miasa Koike of Japan in women’s recurve, 6-2, while Moreno also missed a chance for a podium finish after Marcus D’Almeida of Brazil prevailed in their Olympic round duel, 6-0, at Fangshan archery range here.
“The pressure is really different in the Olympic round,’’ said Philippine archery coach Marvin Cordero. “But it’s OK, they are young athletes. This is a learning experience for them.’’
Gotuaco, No. 11 out of 32 in the individual rankings, scored 26-24-26-22 for 98 points during the round-of-32 while the 22nd-ranked Koike fired 100 points (26-25-25-23) in their matchup, which ended in the fourth of a maximum five sets with three arrows for each frame.
“Most of their arrows hit the yellow target in practice,’’ said Cordero. “I know she (Gotuaco) can beat her opponent. We have to develop mental toughness.’’
In Friday’s individual rankings, Gotuaco assembled 642 points in the 60-meter, 72-arrow event to finish in the upper third of the draw going into the elimination round while Koike scored 618.
“She needs exposure to further build her confidence,’’ said chef de mission Jonne Go.
D’Almeida scored 29-30-28 for 87 points after three sets opposite Moreno, who had 75 points (22-26-27).
“It’s OK, I gave my best,’’ said Moreno, a third-year high school student from La Salle Green Hills.
Moreno wound up 30th entering the elimination phase after compiling 605 points in the rankings while the third-seeded D’Almeida had 683 points.
Gotuaco, who studies at the International School Manila, was visibly disappointed after the match.
It was far from her golden feat in a recent Ohio competition and a bronze-medal finish in the Seoul International Archery Fiesta.
