With travel restrictions expected to be resolved soon, members of the Philippine national archery team is expected to leave for Taiwan this week.
After confining themselves to months of bubble training in Dumaguete, a six-man Philippine squad is preparing to link up with the national contingent of Taiwan, which is in the midst of preparations for the Tokyo Olympics.
The Taiwanese archery team for the games is led by two-time Olympian Tan Ya-ting and reigning world champion Lei Chien-ying in the women’s individual recurve.
The Chinese Taipei Archery Association has informed their Philippine counterpart, World Archery Philippines that their group is willing to lend a helping hand to Filipino archers when they arrive in Taiwan this week.
World Archery Philippines Secretary-General Rosendo Sombrio said this is part of the national team’s plans to join an Olympic qualification competition next month.
“Puspusan ang training nila sa Dumaguete. Nasa peak na ang mga bata,” said Sombrio in a radio interview.
Filipino archers are set to head to France from the June 18 to 21 for the Olympic Qualifier in Paris.
Members of the six-man team that is expected to leave next week for a month-long training stint will be led by Ryan Silos.
A final selection process will be made before the national contingent heads for the Paris Qualifier.
The rest of the contingent is made up of Jason Feliciano, Carson Hastie, Pia Elizabeth Bidaure, Phoebe Amistoso and Monica Bidaure.
Coaches Clint Sayo and Joy Marino will join the team.
“Doon na rin mabubuo ang plans and programs for the team,” said Sombrio, adding that the national team will jointly train with the Taiwanese archers, who will lend them equipment and their analysis system.
The Filipino archers involved will be hosted by their Taiwanese counterparts at the Taiwan National University.
Sombrio said the national squad’s trip to Taiwan was supposed to take place last Saturday.
But it has been held up for the second time since May 1 due to COVID-19 travel restrictions.
But Philippine archery officials are looking forward to a resolution to their visa issues within the week.
