By Tupou Vaipulu Jr
A surge of local interest in archery, following Team Tonga’s standout success at the Pacific Mini-Games in Palau this year, has the small backyard club setting its sights on the 2031 Pacific Games. But if the team wants to dominate regional competitions again, new facilities and equipment is urgently needed in Tonga to develop the young archers who are aiming to keep Tonga high on the medal table.
Tonga's archery team stood out at the Pacific Mini-Games in Palau leading Tonga in medal standings at the mini games while also being the only national team from Tonga where every athlete returned home with a medal. The archery team returned with ten official medals – two of which were golds won by Tonga’s Olympian archer, Arne Jensen.
Although the team was successful at the mini games, the President of Tonga's Archery Federation, Mr. Hans Jensen believes that there is still a lot more room for improvement.
Following the results from the mini games, the popularity of the sport soared with a growing number of new aspiring archers wanting to be trained.
Hans told Matangi Tonga that, currently, the federation can't accommodate the new archers due to having very limited resources.
“We’re desperately after new resources at the moment, to be able to accommodate that boom of interest in archery,” he said.
“We also desperately need more equipment like bows and arrows and, hopefully, also coaches and development officers."
First things first
However, what’s most important right now for Hans is getting help to establish an official facility for archers in Tonga.
He said that this is crucial for the development of the athletes’ skills and training and to accommodate to over 100 aspiring archers.
Hans, who coaches the team, said these things are important to help hone the skills of current archers and build the skills of new talents.
He is certain that with a proper facility, new equipment and more coaches – the archers' performance will improve in upcoming competitions like the 2031 Pacific Games.
“With the proper facility and equipment – come 2031 I’m certain every archery gold medal will be Tonga’s!”
The team currently trains back-and-forth between Han's backyard in Houmakelikao and a small field lent to them by Liahona High School in Hihifo.
