For the first time in history, Namibia achieved a milestone in the world of archery when five Namibian archers were selected for the Africa Archery Federation team.
This follows their performance at the Africa Genesis Archery (AGA) Federation Tournament held at Walvis Bay from 22 to 24 August.
The five are Burton Weakly, Oliver Rothkegel, Ashton Ntsamba, Jason Koch, and Anielka Hayward.
The tournament, which saw participation from countries including South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe, and Zambia, was a fierce competition where Namibia’s archers showcased their talent and determination.
Namibia finished second overall, with South Africa taking the top spot and Zimbabwe coming in third.
Namibia’s national team also secured a commendable second place, trailing behind South Africa and ahead of Botswana. The adults’ squad placed third, while the development squad shone, winning gold and surpassing strong competitors from South Africa and Zimbabwe.
“This is the best tournament we’ve held in Africa so far, and we’re extremely proud of our archers,” says AGA Namibia chairperson Poenie Weakly.
“The feedback on our standards has been overwhelmingly positive. The selection of five Namibians for the Africa team is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our archers.”
Weakly highlighted the significance of the event, stating that this tournament was where African champions were decided.
“We select the top three teams from the development squads and national teams across Africa, so this was a big event. With about 200 archers competing, it was a tough contest, but Namibia has proven that we are a force to be reckoned with in African archery,” he says.
Reflecting on the development of archery in Namibia, Weakly says Namibia has come a long way over the past decade.
“We now have international standard shooters who can compete with the best in the world. Our development squad’s gold medal win is especially encouraging, as it shows that the future of Namibian archery is bright.”
Weakly says Namibia will be hosting the world archery championships next year.
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