Pinay archers cop bronze in World Cup

The Philippines’ compound women’s archers made waves in the recent Meteksan Archery World Cup in Shanghai, China by winning the team bronze medal.

The RP squad of Amaya Paz, Jennifer Chan, Joann Tabanag and Abbigail Tindugan nipped Mexico in the bronze-medal match, 212-210.

Paz and company knocked out India, 217-216, in the quarterfinals but lost to the United States, 209-216, in the semis to set up the meeting with Mexico.

The Americans eventually took the silver after dropping a 218-224 decision to Russia in the finals.

Indonesia, China and Iran also competed in the first ever World Cup staged by FITA.

Chan placed seventh in the individual competition with 109 points, followed by Paz (105), while Tabanag and Tindugan came in 13th and 24th, respectively.

The RP men’s team finished seventh overall, with rookie Enrique Cojuangco Jr. emerging as the best Filipino individual performer at 14th. Earl Benjamin Yap and Karl Francis Achacoso landed 24th and 33rd, respectively.

Only Athens Olympian Jasmin Figueroa of PAC-Magalang/HTMT qualified for the Olympic Round after placing 41st in a field of 69. Rachelle Anne Cabral, Katherine Annalyn Santos and Karen Grace Yasi all failed to advance.

But the RP team, aided by a record-breaking performance, managed to finish 13th overall.

The national lady archers scored 197 points in the 4x6 team match finals to surpass the 196 national mark set by Figueroa, Cabral and Santos in the second Asian Grand Prix in Kuala Lumpur last July 27.

The RP men’s recurve team wound up 16th. Mark Javier was the best individual performer, finishing seventh out of 72 with 108 points. Paul Marton dela Cruz and Marvin Cordero occupied the 32nd and 63rd places, respectively, while Christian Cubilla failed to qualify.

Archery president Dr. Lenora Fe Brawner headed the RP delegation, which was supported by the Philippine Sports Commission, Pagcor, Architect Oscar Salvacion of Design Coordinated and Philippine Plaza Hotel, HTMT, SM Prime Holdings Inc., Benel Industries, First Asia Realty Development Corp., SM Keppel Land Inc. and Planet Cinema Management Corp.