Cambodia Selects National Archers for International Competition

BY BUTH REAKSMEY KONGKEA

The Cambodian Archery Federation has conducted a National Archery Competition in preparation for international competition. All told, there were 109 toxophilites, including 15 female competitors from eight of the nation’s Archery clubs and other associations in Phnom Penh.

The competition was scheduled to run over five days from 3-7 November at the National Olympic Stadium in Phnom Penh. It was organized by the Cambodian Archery Federation (CAF), in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport (MoEYS).

Kong Diep, Deputy Secretary General of CAF, said that this is the 9th competition to be held this year and the goal is to select the most steady-handed, steely-eyed archer to go forward and represent the nation in international competition. Quite apart from this, the crowd of informed and enthusiastic spectators thrilled to the sight of Cambodian athletes as they combined strength in exploiting the flexibility of the bow with an understanding of the aerodynamics of the straight arrow, to produce accuracy.

He said the main purpose of the competition was to select outstanding archers from across the country for entry into Cambodia’s further National Championships this Year. He added that the objective of competitions is to select the new Cambodian archers and prepare them to compete at the SEA Games in 2009, which will be held in Vientiane, Laos.

Such a high-profile competition will also help to promote the noble art of Archery. As readers of the “Rajamanak” or “Ream Ker Story” will remember, Cambodia has a long and rich tradition in archery and this competition also aims to preserve interest in the sport, he said.

The competition is divided into two categories; the first category is for male competitors who will compete over ranges of 30, 50 and 60 meters. The second category is for female competitors who will test their accuracy over 30 and 50 meter ranges.

He continued that the archers who fill the first places will receive gold medals, along with other valuable prizes, with silver and bronze awards for the brave runners-up. The prizes have been provided by the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport, generous as ever in supporting and developing the nation’s contenders.

Diep said the CAF will send the names of the gold medalists forward to attend international competition in the SEA games to be held in Laos, next year. He also noted that these competitors will be supported by MoEYS throughout the course of their training.

He said that those who win the gold, silver and bronze medals would be supported by Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport for their livings and trainings at National Olympic Stadium in Phnom Penh in preparation for future international competitions.

Uy Kea, Technical Archery Coach and Executive Member of CAF, said that his Federation was established in 1999 by Khieu Kanarith, Minister of Information. He said the CAF’s objectives aimed at developing and promoting Cambodian Archery in preparation for future international competitions.

Since 2000, the federation has recruited and trained 16 champions for entry into National Championships in Cambodia, Kea told the Cambodia Weekly during a personal interview on November 5.

“I have observed from year to year, Cambodian archery has developed and our archers have improved with increased exposure to competition,” he said. “I hope that through these competitions and hard training, Cambodian archers will gain more experience and become competitors to be feared and respected by all-comers at international level.”

Em Vany, 34 and an enthusiastic archer from the Thou Sar Association in Phnom Penh, said that it marked the first time for her to attend competition in Phnom Penh. She said that she had been attracted to the sport for as long as she could remember and she was lucky to have the opportunity to train with her friends since 2007. She said that she had been training hard and was focused on bringing home a medal for the honor of her club and family.

“I am completely focused because this is my only wish. It is a graceful, elegant and in my opinion, a lady-like sport involving skill, strength and the archer’s ability to view the arrow as an extension of the self. I have found friendship with like-minded ladies at the club and I would recommend it to anyone.”

She continued “The act of loosing off an arrow appears to be a matter of little thought. However, I find it a meditative art, similar to the process involved in making a big decision. One marshals one’s strength, bending it towards making intelligent use of the tools at hand and calculating the likely trajectory of the intention. Then, there is a moment of release, when the power of concentration is transformed in an instant into the awful power of a potentially lethal projectile in flight,” she said.

Vann Tina, 22, another archer from the Kann Meanchey Club in Phnom Penh, said that he had blooded himself in five competitions to date.

“I am delighted to be invited to attend the archery competitions again this year. This is the fifth time I have fought for the honour of my Club in these competitions. I won a gold medal last year and now I hope to win again; I’m confident of doing so, given my experience,” he said.

He continued that he used to win gold medals in National Archery Competitions in Phnom Penh over the last four years. He added that he also attended competitions in Thailand and Vietnam but he had found success elusive in these competitions.

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