Tongi gears up for 17-nation archery camp

More than 100 archers, coaches and officials from 17 Asian countries will take part in a joint training programme and the inaugural World Archery Asia (WWA) President's Challenge Cup at the Archery Training Academy in Tongi from July 30 to August 2.

Organised by the Bangladesh Archery Federation with financial support from World Archery Asia, the programme returns after a five-year hiatus. Bangladesh last hosted similar initiatives in 2018, 2019 and 2021.

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The three-day training programme will focus on four key areas — injury prevention, sports nutrition, sports psychology and anti-doping. Each participating nation will be represented by four archers, one coach and one official.

The participating countries are Afghanistan, Bhutan, China, India, Iraq, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, Nepal, Pakistan, the Philippines, Qatar, Singapore, the United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan, Yemen and hosts Bangladesh.

Bangladesh's German coach Martin Frederick will serve as head coach, with South Korea's Young Sook Park Sally assisting.

"It is now absolutely important to work with other players and let them know how to prevent injuries, give them a proper idea of nutrition and how psychology works on and off the field," Frederick said after Sunday's press conference at the BOA auditorium.

"We will also have some training matches and that will help the archers learn, even though the programme is only four days long," he added.

Frederick said he hoped such initiatives would be held more frequently, particularly to strengthen Bangladesh's ties with regional powerhouses.

"I wish we could have this kind of training more often, especially with India, because our neighbours are strong. I want more interaction to help build our archers," he said.

He also believes the programme will strengthen relationships among archers, coaches and officials across Asia.

World Archery Asia has provided financial support of Tk 55 lakh for the programme.

Following the training camp, the inaugural WWA President's Challenge Cup will be held on August 2. The one-day event will feature senior and Under-18 categories, with recurve men's individual, women's individual and mixed team events.

WWA president and Bangladesh Archery Federation president Kazi Razibuddin Ahmed Chapal said the tournament was named after the WWA president because he personally funded the competition.

"As the WWA president himself is bearing all the expenses of the one-day competition, it has been named the WWA President's Challenge Cup," Chapal said.

He added that the WWA president had pledged to continue financing the event for as long as he remains in office.