Young PH archers aim for Tokyo tickets

With little expectations, a young band of Filipino archers set off to chase Olympic berths starting Saturday in their sport’s Final Qualification Tournament in Paris.

In team events, only the top two competitors from 30 countries will earn spots in the Tokyo Games for women’s recurve, and top three from among 47 countries in men’s division.

Men’s team competitions will be on Saturday, while women’s teams are on Sunday. Individual action will be on Monday.

The country is hoping to secure Olympic places at least in the individual category. Spots for team events are expected to be filled up by traditional heavyweights like Spain, Russia and Italy in men’s, and India and Mexico in women’s.

One thing going for the Philippines is that available quota places in individual categories are likely to increase as archers from countries that qualify three-archer team quotas automatically free up individual spots.

The six-man team, all promising teenagers from the association’s grassroots, were in high sprits during the practice rounds held under very strict health protocols.

“The players are not allowed to go out of the hotel. If we need to buy some essential needs, the organizers will provide somebody to buy it for us,” said World Archery-Philippines secretary general Rosendo Sombrio.

He added that players are prohibited from a “meet and greet” with other competitors and everyone is required to undergo reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction test every three days.

The team is composed of Riley Silos, Jason Feliciano, Carson Hastie, sisters Pia and Monica Bidaure and Phoebe Amistoso.

Their preparation hit a snag after the training camp in Chinese Taipei got canceled due to COVID-19 cases there. INQ