Right on target
NAGOYA—Amaya Paz-Cojuangco’s Asian Games silver did not come with a ticket to the Los Angeles Olympics. But it gave Philippine archery a significant boost as it turns toward qualifying for the compound mixed-team event that will make its Olympic debut in 2028.
Cojuangco came within two points of gold in the women’s compound individual final Thursday, falling to Indonesia’s Nurisa Dian Ashrifah, 139-137, at Okazaki Chuo Sogo Park Multipurpose Square.
The final was tied through four ends before Ashrifah outscored Cojuangco, 29-27, in the fifth and final end to secure the gold.
Cojuangco’s silver ended a 12-year wait for another Philippine Asian Games archery medal. Paul Marton Dela Cruz had won bronze in the men’s individual compound event at the 2014 Incheon Games.
Now the Philippines is trying to turn that breakthrough into something bigger.
“LA (Los Angeles) Olympics 2028 has included a mixed team compound event, and hopefully we can make it there. We will try to qualify either through the Olympic qualifiers and ranking points,” Cojuangco said.
Compound archery will be contested at the Olympics for the first time in Los Angeles, with medals awarded in the mixed-team event.
The Philippines still has to qualify a mixed pair for Los Angeles.
But a plan has already formed following the Asiad success: pair Cojuangco with 18-year-old Mateusz Vaughn Johnson of Davao City, one of the country’s emerging compound archers.
Johnson provided his own glimpse of potential at the Singapore Youth Archery Championships in July, winning three gold medals—in the under-18 individual, team and mixed-team compound events.
World Archery has allotted places for 12 mixed teams at LA 2028
The Asian Games breakthrough also strengthened Philippine archery officials’ belief in the program being built by South Korean coach Ryu Su-jeng.
Ryu helped guide South Korea to five Olympic gold medals before joining the Philippine program with fellow Korean coach Hong Sung-chil.
“The win of one is the win of all. The team is ecstatic. It’s a wonderful team dynamic nurtured by coaches Ryu Su-jeng and Hong Sung-chil,” Philippine Sports Commission Chairman Patrick Gregorio said.
“Bringing coach Ryu into the national archery program stands as one of our most decisive and transformative moves and the Asian Games performance has emphatically affirmed that,” Gregorio added.
World Archery Philippines president Bing Reaport said Ryu brought more than technical improvements to the national team.
“It is different if you have a coach who has a champion mindset who knows how to push the team. Coach Ryu told the team prior to this tournament that if we don’t win a medal here, she will resign and go back to Korea,” Reaport said.
“She told the team never in her career that she did not win a medal, whether it is a small or a major tournament,” Reaport added.
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