World Archery Asia bustling with development activities

World Archery with the support of the International Olympic Committee continues to provide coaching and training opportunities at the World Archery Accredited Partner Archery Centre in Bangkok, Thailand. The venue provides educational and training tools to assist all member associations.

World Archery Asia organised a Joint Archery Training Programme in Bangkok from 2-5 August 2014. This training camp aimed at enhancing competition performance of Asian archers and developing the capacity for teaching and coaching of archery coaches, also as a preparation for the Incheon Asian Games.

The programme, attended by 38 coaches and archers from six countries, was conducted by World Archery expert Coach Chong Yap LEE (MAS), assisted by national expert Coach Lertporn KAENCHAN, under the supervision of World Archery Asia Secretary General Prof UM Sung-Ho and First Vice-president Mr Sanguan KOSAVINTA.

The Centre previously hosted in 2014 fifty-one participants from around the world for judges and coaches courses and compound and youth training camps in view of the Youth Olympic Games 2014. Coach Chong conducted most courses and was assisted by World Archery Development and Education Director, Pascal COLMAIRE, for the level 1 coaches course.

Following her graduation from the ICECP programme in 2014, Tshering CHODEN's development plan in Bhutan is progressing as planned. A summer camp was held from 2-7 July with the participation of 15 girls, of which two joined the national team. Tshering managed to open archery clubs throughout the whole country with the support of the National Olympic Committee and Ministry of Sports.

As a result archery has progressed tremendously in the country in a short period of time with high participation of girls and women. CHODEN is also promoting very much gender equity in her country and is encouraging mothers and housewives to practice the sport of archery.

Various coaching courses and future training camps will take place in Bhutan in the near future, and the national team has set a training plan in view of Rio 2016 Olympic Games.
 

The United Arab Emirates Archery Association organised its first official Open Archery Tournament on 3-4 July. Fifty archers – 20 men and 30 women - from ten nationalities participated in the tournament that came after some development activities for both coaches and judges along with long-term development plans.

The national federation also held a training course in April, including basic coaching knowledge for 40 participants through theoretical and practical sessions. The instructor was Dr Soha Mohammed ABDEL ALL from Egypt, a level 3 World Archery coach and Olympic archer.

A level 1 judges course gathered 51 participants, as well, in cooperation with the Leader's Qualification Center in Dubai in June 2014. The course instructor Dr Ahmed KOURA (EGY), an International Judge, said he was surprised by the number of participants coming from ten countries. The top ten judges ranked following the course officiated for their first time at the above mentioned tournament.

Future courses and training camps are already announced in the development calendar on www.worldarchery.org.

World Archery will grant financial assistance to 5 women and 5 men at each course or training camp held at the Bangkok Centre, covering the expenses on site including local transportation, accommodation in a double room and meals.

For more information, please contact World Archery Development Coordinator Mr Satakhun KOSAVINTA (THA) at k.satakhun@gmail.com or World Archery Senior Development Coordinator Mrs Deqa NIAMKEY at dniamkey@archery.org.