National archery squad’s mission not over
Published on: Thursday, June 20, 2019
KUALA LUMPUR: After successfully booking a slot to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics in the men’s individual recurve event, the national archery squad now wants to shift its focus to the team’s recurve event.
National archery chief coach, Lee Jae Hyung (pic) said other than the World Cup in Berlin next year, the national archers also had an opportunity to grab another slot to the Olympics at the Asian Archery Championship in Bangkok, Thailand in November this year.
ADVERTISEMENT
He said the Asian Archery Championship offered another slot in the individual event while the World Cup competition offered a slot in the team event.
National archer, Khairul Anuar Mohamad had confirmed a place to the Olympic Games in the recurve individual event despite securing only the silver medal at the World Archery Championship in Hertogenbosch, Netherlands.
The 2020 Tokyo Olympics would be Khairul Anuar’s third appearance after qualifying for London (2012) and Rio (2016).
“Our preparation will focus on the Asian Championship (November), Bangkok and World Cup, Berlin next year. We will get one more individual slot in Bangkok.
ADVERTISEMENT
“The team’s event will be next year. It is like previously, we qualify at the final minutes. Except this time, the contest is stiff from the United States, Italy and France who have also yet to qualify.
“Close preparations in terms of the weather conditions, the conditions of the athletes, all these are important because the conditions of the archers on the day of competition is important. It is not difficult for us to qualify if our preparation is adequate,” said the coach from South Korea.
ADVERTISEMENT
On the preparation of Khairul Anuar, Lee said the Kemaman,Terengganu-born athlete would continue his training with the other athletes because he would also be helping the national squad at the World Cup later.
Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
Daily Express Malaysia
He said that Khairul Anuar and the other archers would go to Tokyo, Japan in July to face a test competition at the real venue the archery event would take place later.
“We suggest that we want to train at the venue (in Tokyo) for one week after the test competition. But it is up to the plans of the National Sports Council,” he added. – Bernama