Gotuaco is the new archery darling

MANILA, Philippines—The Philippines found a new darling in archery in Bianca Roxas-Chua Gotuaco.

Only 14 but already a bemedalled bet, Gotuaco looms as the brightest hope in the Youth Olympics in 2014 and the Summer Olympics in 2016 in Brazil.

“I train very hard and I’m thankful that I’m getting the fruits of all my hard work,” said the high school freshman at International School-Manila after winning five golds in the recent Batang Pinoy competitions in Naga City.

Sweeping all the golds staked in her division including the qualifying round, Olympic round, mixed team event (with National Capital Region) and girls’ team event, Gotuaco also earned the Best Female Archer of Batang Pinoy 2011 plum.

Though it was in Batang Pinoy where her exploits hit the headlines, the youngster has been harvesting accolades here and abroad the past few years.

Early in 2011, she nailed the gold in qualifying round during the Batang Pinoy regionals at Rizal Memorial Sports Complex.

Gotuaco had earlier pulled off her most cherished achievement so far when she won silver in the recurve cub category in the 2011 State Games of America in San Diego, California last August. She was on  target in the 40-meter, 30m and 20m distances to finish runner-up.

She made it to the 2011 State Games of America by taking the silver in the same category in the California State Games last August at the Olympic Training Center in San Diego.

Last May, she scooped five golds in the Philippine National Games in Bacolod, taking the top plum in the 50m, 40m, 30m, 20m, and highest Fita.

Now she has her sights on bigger events like the US Nationals in Ohio and the Nor’Easter Tournament in Massachusetts next year, hoping to gain enough experience and skill to compete in the Youth Olympics in Nanjing, China.

Gotuaco is also preparing to compete in the Palarong Pambansa in Pangasinan, and PNG in Dumaguete next summer.