PSC bet on foreign coaches yields big win

Earlier in the week, Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) chairman Patrick Gregorio used archery as an example of the wonders foreign coaching can bring to the country’s national sports programs.

He talked about a mix of modern training—like turning archery into a sport of the mind rather than the eye—and some out-of-the-box approaches such as shooting at swinging mangoes.

A couple of days later, he was handed the results of the new training regimen.

Members of the Philippine youth archery team paid a courtesy call on Gregorio late Wednesday after returning from a dominant campaign in the Singapore Youth Archery Championships.

“This is the resurgence of Philippine archery,” Gregorio said.

The Filipino delegation presented the medals it won during the three-day tournament at the Bukit Gombak Stadium, where the country collected 13 gold medals, 10 silvers and seven bronzes against competitors from China, Hong Kong, Chinese Taipei, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Australia, Laos and host Singapore.

South Koreans

Much of the success of the newest batch of young national archers lies in the hiring of South Korean mentors Ryu Su-jeng, who guided South Korea to five Olympic gold medals in the 2016 and 2020 Games, and Hong Sung Chil, the 1999 world champion.

The Koreans, the PSC chair said, also mentor local coaches to ensure transfer of successful techniques.

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Gregorio, joined by PSC commissioner Edward Hayco, welcomed the delegation composed of 21 archers, five coaches and five team officials. The PSC chair praised the squad for achieving what he called a “perfect bullseye”.

“It’s time to bring back the glory days of Philippine archery. This is for the country,” World Archery Philippines president Bing Reaport said.

The Filipinos capped their campaign with five gold medals on the final day of the tournament.