The 7th African Genesis Archery Namibia national tournament attracted over 100 archers from across the country at the Windhoek High School (WHS) sports stadium on Saturday.
Winners walked away with a new bow each, but the event also served as a qualification to the much-anticipated virtual African Archery Championship, slated for November this year.
The African Archery Championship will see countries such as Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, and Canada, as a guest country, competing in the top tournament.
Speaking to this publication after the tournament, Namibia Archery Committee chairperson Poenie Weakley said he was happy with the way the tournament turned out, as it showed that archery is a force to be reckoned with as a sports discipline.
“It was a great competition, as learners came in large numbers to compete and showcase their talents. It’s a sport that requires one to focus – and looking at the number of points that these archers have accumulated today, it shows how much potential we have,” he noted.
Weakley was also impressed with how archers brought their A-game in one of the most competitive tournaments ever, adding that other sports codes can learn from their success story from the weekend.
“I believe that this is the best tournament we have hosted thus far, and we are hoping that this will improve with time – and having seen how archery enthusiasts and parents came to show support – shows how much of the right thing we are doing,” he said.
Also speaking during the prize-giving ceremony, Burton Weakly, who accumulated the highest points, said he was happy with his performance although he could have taken it further.
He said the tournament went well, as it created enough competition as they prepare for the much-anticipated continental tournament.
“I am happy with how I did today, although there is room for improvement. Overall, I am proud of everyone who came here and competed because they pushed me to focus hard and accumulate more points,” he added.
– mkambukwe@nepc.com.na