Marjan and Rumaysa: Leading change as Britain’s young ambassadors

The phrase “age is just a number” often praises remarkable achievements by older athletes, but it also perfectly describes the impact of the youngest generation in sport.

Twenty-year-old Marjan Abdelfattah and 14-year-old Rumaysa Chader are two such examples.

Both recurve women archers on the Great Britain pathway programme, they are rising stars with Olympic ambitions and, crucially, official ambassadors for Archery GB. Their mission: to promote archery, enhance the experience for all, and support club development – especially within underrepresented communities.

At the Youth Festival in Lilleshall last week, their talents shone bright. Marjan, seeded fourth after qualifications, won gold in the under-21 women’s team event and silver individually. Rumaysa took home double gold in the under-15 women’s team and mixed team events, plus an individual silver medal.

What sets them apart is not just their competitive success but also their role as young ambassadors from ethnic minority backgrounds.

“Here in Northern Ireland, I don’t think archery is that diverse; it’s just not very well known,” said Marjan, who won three gold medals at the 2022 British Home Nations Youth Festival. “People know archery exists, but no one’s keen on taking it up.”

“It’s a very niche sport, so I just want to make it welcoming and more accessible, because anyone can be an archer – that’s the whole point.”

“We have a lot of people who come from that side [underrepresented backgrounds] who don’t think they can do anything, but then when they see archery, they realise they can.”

There are countless participation schemes worldwide – such as Project Rimaya – working to make archery clubs more diverse and comfortable for beginners. Marjan herself aims to set up a club for Muslims in Belfast.

Go to any shooting line at any level, and the camaraderie among archers – even rivals in match play – is what makes the sport stand out as a community.

Marjan began archery 10 years ago learning through one-on-one beginner courses in her birthplace, Egypt before properly picking the sport up 6 years ago. Since moving to Britain, she’s not only advanced in the pathway but also become a level one qualified coach, witnessing the growing diversity in archery firsthand.

“Even in the last couple of years, when I helped out in beginner courses or just showed up for trial sessions, there’s been a lot more diverse people – even at university,” she said. “More people are taking up archery even as a hobby, not really competing. Clubs across Northern Ireland are  getting much more diverse and becoming more ethnically diverse.”

Rumaysa’s experience echoes this. She first picked up a bow at a scouts camp before joining her first club in Hampshire, England. Feeling “at home” instantly made her want to return.

Now 14, she is one of the brightest prospects in the British pathway programme, having completed her first training camp this past October. In July, she competed at the Junior National Youth Outdoor Championships, finishing sixth in the under-15 recurve women’s 90-arrow round and fourth in the 108-arrow 50-metre event.

“I see everyone as quite equal,” said Rumaysa, also British under-14 field champion. “From my point of view, I’ve never really seen any barrier or anything that can hold me back, and that’s how I would like other people to think like. That’s not something that should hold you back.”

“I don’t think that I’ve had to overcome anything huge. I’ve always felt very welcome.”

Beyond encouraging newcomers, ambassadors like Marjan and Rumaysa also volunteer to develop archery locally and nationally.

Drawing from her experience as a former taekwondo athlete, Rumaysa shares a vital message for beginners: don’t be too hard on yourself, even if you drop a bad shot. Archery is as much a mental sport as it is physical.

“You need to stop comparing yourself to others,” she explained. “That’s what I like about archery – you can work on yourself. You can beat your own score, which is what archery is really about. It can be tough because it’s about being competitive, and many things can get in your head.”

Inspiring the next generation of archers has always been a priority for athletes and federations worldwide. 

Without young talent coming through, the future of any sport would be uncertain. That’s why young ambassadors such as Marjan and Rumaysa are true difference makers.

They are not only high-flying prospects aiming for Olympic success but also passionate advocates developing the sport for the greater good in their age group and communities.

Images courtesy of ArcheryGB