Pacific archers have a world future, says Chinese coach
Pacific archers have all the ingredients to compete against the elite in the sport on the world stage, says Samoa's national archery coach.
He Chunchen based his assessment on this year’s Samoa 2019 XVI Pacific Games archery competition where world-ranked and Pacific power-houses New Caledonia and Tahiti came under constant fire from Fiji, Tonga, Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea and Samoa.
In the last two years, Chunchen has coached young archers from Tonga and Vanuatu who were sent to China for specialised training.
And more recently, six young Samoan archers went to China for a four-month training camp with Chunchen as a lead up to the Games in July.
He Chunchen, coach for Samoa's archery team, was pleased with Pacific island contenders at Samoa 2019.
Last week, three of the Chinese-trained archers from Samoa and two from Tonga won medals at the Pacific Games.
Appearances by Tonga, Fiji and Samoa on the Games medal podium as gold, silver and bronze medal winners signals the improved level of competition that the two Pacific French territories can expect in the coming years, New Zealand and Australia included, he said.
Speaking through a translator, Chunchen said that given time, he predicts a change to the Pacific archery landscape in the near future.
He is anticipating a step up from the islands' archers as formidable contenders on the international and world stages.
Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi was coached by Chunchen. Asked if Tuilaepa had genuinely trained to compete seriously, Chunchen says that the PM's qualification to contest the bronze medal in the Mixed Compound Division confirmed Tuilaepa's indisputable resolve to compete with Pacific's best.
For Samoa, it is almost impossible not to notice the People’s Republic of China's contribution to the host country to stage the Games.
There is the new Faleata Multi-Sports Centre for indoor sports which China built, and the Aquatic Centre and Apia Park Stadium had a facelift funded by China.
And over 200 athletes and officials travelled to China for specialised training to prepare for the Games. A team of 16 Chinese, including 14 coaches in specific sports, and two translators are in Samoa now to support athletes during the two-week long Games.
Archery President Muaausa Joseph Walter was pleased with results for the home team, which broke its 13-year drought of gold medals.
“Our coach’s commendable performance deserves more than a public acknowledgement,” said Walter.
“He has done wonders to our sport especially our young athletes who have shown vast improvements.”
