Antalya launches global youth training series with Olympic Solidarity backing
World Archery launched its inaugural 2025 global youth training series from 9 to 14 June in Antalya, Türkiye, bringing together 23 promising 14-to-16-year-old archers and coaches from across Europe for a week of intensive development.
Participating countries were Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Estonia, Georgia, Moldova and Slovakia.
“It was one of the best experiences for me as an archer,” said 16-year-old Emil Hristov from Bulgaria. “I learnt a lot of things here that I’m sure will help me become a better archer in the future.”
Post-event feedback reflected the week’s strong impact, with 82% of participants saying the camp exceeded expectations and 18% very satisfied. Remarkably, more than 80% reported clear and measurable improvement in their technical or coaching knowledge.
Held immediately after the third stage of the Hyundai Archery World Cup in the same city, the event was designed to bridge elite inspiration with practical learning ahead of the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games, supported by Olympic Solidarity.
Conducted in English, the training camp featured a comprehensive programme combining technical instruction, mental training and cultural exchange.
Daily sessions focused on core shooting fundamentals, movement efficiency and tactical decision-making, guided by a pool of elite coaches and experts provided by the Turkish archery federation, including Natalia Nasaridze, a former international athlete and four-time Olympian, and Göktug Ergin, esteemed head coach of the national team.
Ergin’s Olympic experience and tactical insight added significant value to the week’s activities, reinforcing the camp’s high-performance foundation and supporting both athletes and fellow coaches.
“It was a great experience to reconnect with the basics and support young athletes,” said the 40-year-old, who guided Mete Gazoz to Olympic gold at Tokyo 2020. “We encouraged them to see archery from a new perspective and supported coaches in helping them grow – and I hope our time together was inspiring for everyone involved.”
The opportunity to learn in a multicultural, high-performance environment was a highlight for many.
“I got to see how the pros – like Mete Gazoz – train, recover and eat,” said 14-year-old Emma Kask from Estonia. “The psychology seminar stood out the most. I really like to learn about mental training, and I got a lot more knowledge on how to make practice both challenging and fun.”
Sessions extended beyond shooting, with workshops on mental strength, communication and team dynamics, plus informal evening discussions for reflection and bonding.
“So far, the best thing I’m taking home is the mental and mind training,” said Georgian coach Lasha Pkhakadze. “It will be very useful for my country and my teams. I’ll try my best to build on it back home.”
This Antalya edition was the first of three continental youth camps scheduled for 2025.
The next will take place in San Salvador, El Salvador, from 1 to 8 November, welcoming 40 participants from the Americas with sessions delivered in both English and Spanish. The final event will be held in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, from 14 to 18 November, ahead of the African Archery Championships, serving athletes and coaches in English and French.
All three camps are funded by Olympic Solidarity, a key partner in archery’s global growth. The 2021–2024 Olympic cycle saw a record 77 archery-specific projects funded through the programme, including 30 technical courses for coaches, 28 athlete scholarships, 14 coach scholarships and six national structure development projects.
As part of the programme’s commitment to clean, fair and safe sport, all participants are required to complete the IOC safeguarding and WADA anti-doping courses. For upcoming camps, a prevention of manipulation of competitions component will also be introduced to further strengthen competition integrity.
World Archery aims to increase both the number and quality of these initiatives by 20% during the 2025–2028 period.
“The value of Olympic Solidarity in our sport cannot be overstated,” said World Archery Secretary General Tom Dielen. “From scholarships that help archers prepare for the Olympic Games to grassroots coaching courses like this camp in Antalya, the programme ensures that development is truly global – and accessible to all.”
Several athletes supported by Olympic Solidarity have qualified for Paris 2024, including Indonesia’s Diananda Choirunisa, Guinea’s Fatoumata Sylla and the US Virgin Islands’ Nicholas D’Amour. Their journeys highlight the tangible results of long-term investment in emerging talent.
As the sun set over Antalya’s training field on the final day of the camp, the young athletes gathered for a group photo – tired, inspired and already asking when they could return.
“We enjoyed every second of this,” added Pkhakadze. “The teaching, the facilities, the spirit – it was all high-level. I’m really thankful and grateful for being here.”
