The Archery Association of Namibia yesterday received financial backing from Bank Windhoek for the hosting of the 2014 Federation of African Archery (FAA) Youth Championships in April.
The African Archery Youth Championships, set to take place on 17 April at the DTS Sports grounds in Windhoek, are the highest level of competition for Africa’s young archers.
The event will also serve as the continental qualifying tournament for the 2014 Nanjing Youth Olympic Summer Games, scheduled for 16 to 28 August 2014 in Nanjing, China.
Countries that have so far confirmed their participation in the African Championships are Namibia, Egypt, Benin and Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea, Central African Republic, Morocco, while Tunisia is planning to participate. The closing date for entries is 3 March 2014.
Participants will compete in the age category of 14-20 years and in the two archery disciplines of Recurve and Compound.
Seven Namibians will take part in the championships. These include Xander Reddig (Cadet Men Recurve), Sebastian Fechter, Mynhard Beukes, Hendrik van Eeden (Cadet Men Compound), Ruan van Staden (Junior Men Compound), Hané Snyman (Cadet Compound Women), Elisabeth Taljaard (Compound Junior Women).
Olympic Solidarity will fund and host a training camp in conjunction with the Archery Association of Namibia during the week preceding the championships. This training camp will cater for cadet recurve archers from the FAA Member Associations who will compete in the Continental Qualifier for the Youth Olympics. Mr Pascal Colmaire, from World Archery will be the coach responsible for that week.
On Saturday, 12 April, the Archery Association will host an open day at the SKW Archery Range to introduce and expose the sport to the youth of Namibia.
“The Archery Association of Namibia is grateful to Bank Windhoek for making it possible to host the African championships,” said Frank Bockmühl, president of Archery Association of Namibia.
He added that the hosting of the championships in Namibia will put the spotlight on archery as a sport and hopefully create improved interest within the country.
“Further sponsorships will help, as participation in high level archery is an expensive undertaking. Beginner level equipment however is not that expensive. Archery is a demanding sport putting high demands on mind and body,” he said. “Through perseverance, passion, dedication and devotion, archers master the power and precision of an ultimate sport and develop human qualities of integrity and respect.”
The Secretary General of the Namibia National Olympic Committee, Joan Smit said: “I am so glad that Bank Windhoek has taken the opportunity to become involved with archery. The NNOC holds the sport in very high regard and we are certain that our next Olympic qualifier will come from archery. The sport plays a big role to cultivate discipline and powers of concentration in young participants. I urge Bank Windhoek, and other companies, to become more involved with archery. I am sure that the Namibian Federation will make Namibia proud at this year’s African Archery Youth Championships.”
Riaan van Rooyen, the head of Bank Windhoek’s Corporate Communication and Social Investment said he hopes for top performances and a high standard of organisation at the Championships.
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