Archery
is perhaps one of the few sports in NTU, which does not require an impressive
repertoire of past achievements to be part of the school team.
In fact, you can be a beginner and still enjoy the sweet fruit of success.
The 30-member NTU archery club boasts of a proud haul of medals since its inauguration in 1992. They compete regularly in Invitational IVP championship, national events organized by the Archery Association of Singapore and even in competitions overseas.
Last December, the club, which will achieve full IVP status next semester, clinched eight out of 11 gold medals in the NTU Invitational IVP Championship held in NTU.
NTU is an established powerhouse at tertiary level, but interestingly, about 90 percent of their 18-20 new recruits each year are beginners to the sport.
Most of the club members were not childhood William Tell aspirants, but rather, had their first taste of archery only when the stepped into NTU.
Honorary-General Secretart Saw Saik Hong, a second year Mechanical and Production Engineering student simply wanted to "try out something new" when he saw the archery booth at the ECA fair.
First timers need not worry about having a difficult time easing into the sport.
Vice-president Goh Phei Ling, a second year Computer Engineering student attests there are not many problems that beginners are afflicted with.
She explained "The only noted difficulties are that some beginners are not used to the form (style) of the game and some don't have the strength to sustain through all the shots." They shoot an average of 100 arrows per competition.
However, even faced with such teething problems, club president Wong Tze Chyuan, a second-year Mechanical and Production Engineering student, believes newcomers should not be discouraged as simple perseverance is the solution.
"You may or may not get it on your initial attempts, but if your passion is there for the sport, you just keep trying. You must be willing to put in hard work before you make the shot eventually." he said.
As evidenced by the long training hours put in by the archers, constant practice is vital even after you have mastered the basic technique.
Wong also said training starts one-and-a-half month before competition.
"We train five days a week in the holidays, form nine to four. 95 per cent of the time, we just shoot and the rest of the time is spent on physical training to build up stamina. Consistency is the name of the game."
Saw maintains it's a "mind game" while performing the sot especially during competitions.
Said Saw:" It is important to be calm and hence I always try to psyche myself down before a big competition."
He also added that other archers would also try different techniques of preparation for competitions such as "going through the sequence of imaginary shoot in their head".
The club members added they actually undergo mental skill training.
Senior archers attend N-cap sports coaching sessions organized by the Singapore Sports Council on how to prepare for competition, set objectives, monitor progress and to have the right attitude for the sport.
The "passion for the game" keeps Wong going despite heavy training schedules. "Archery is addictive as you keep on trying to better yourself.
"The sport can be as simple as pulling and letting go of the arrow, but yet so complex with so much skill and knowledge involved. That's what makes it so interesting." he said.
The allure of archery???
Personally, Wong attributes, "It is a way to challenge yourself and it trains up your mind. It can be said to be an individualistic game where your opponent is actually the target board, as you are shooting on your own."
"It also trains yourself to gain better control mentally and physically too."
All three club members interviewed expressed their desire to maintain their involvement with archery even after they graduate.
They hope to join the alumni team and continue shooting while sharing their experience with their juniors.
Lofty goals are in store too, as Goh hoped the club would "strive for excellence, reach greater heights" and eventually, be "best in Singapore"!
By Gail Wan
In fact, you can be a beginner and still enjoy the sweet fruit of success.
The 30-member NTU archery club boasts of a proud haul of medals since its inauguration in 1992. They compete regularly in Invitational IVP championship, national events organized by the Archery Association of Singapore and even in competitions overseas.
Last December, the club, which will achieve full IVP status next semester, clinched eight out of 11 gold medals in the NTU Invitational IVP Championship held in NTU.
NTU is an established powerhouse at tertiary level, but interestingly, about 90 percent of their 18-20 new recruits each year are beginners to the sport.
Most of the club members were not childhood William Tell aspirants, but rather, had their first taste of archery only when the stepped into NTU.
Honorary-General Secretart Saw Saik Hong, a second year Mechanical and Production Engineering student simply wanted to "try out something new" when he saw the archery booth at the ECA fair.
First timers need not worry about having a difficult time easing into the sport.
Vice-president Goh Phei Ling, a second year Computer Engineering student attests there are not many problems that beginners are afflicted with.
She explained "The only noted difficulties are that some beginners are not used to the form (style) of the game and some don't have the strength to sustain through all the shots." They shoot an average of 100 arrows per competition.
However, even faced with such teething problems, club president Wong Tze Chyuan, a second-year Mechanical and Production Engineering student, believes newcomers should not be discouraged as simple perseverance is the solution.
"You may or may not get it on your initial attempts, but if your passion is there for the sport, you just keep trying. You must be willing to put in hard work before you make the shot eventually." he said.
As evidenced by the long training hours put in by the archers, constant practice is vital even after you have mastered the basic technique.
Wong also said training starts one-and-a-half month before competition.
"We train five days a week in the holidays, form nine to four. 95 per cent of the time, we just shoot and the rest of the time is spent on physical training to build up stamina. Consistency is the name of the game."
Saw maintains it's a "mind game" while performing the sot especially during competitions.
Said Saw:" It is important to be calm and hence I always try to psyche myself down before a big competition."
He also added that other archers would also try different techniques of preparation for competitions such as "going through the sequence of imaginary shoot in their head".
The club members added they actually undergo mental skill training.
Senior archers attend N-cap sports coaching sessions organized by the Singapore Sports Council on how to prepare for competition, set objectives, monitor progress and to have the right attitude for the sport.
The "passion for the game" keeps Wong going despite heavy training schedules. "Archery is addictive as you keep on trying to better yourself.
"The sport can be as simple as pulling and letting go of the arrow, but yet so complex with so much skill and knowledge involved. That's what makes it so interesting." he said.
The allure of archery???
Personally, Wong attributes, "It is a way to challenge yourself and it trains up your mind. It can be said to be an individualistic game where your opponent is actually the target board, as you are shooting on your own."
"It also trains yourself to gain better control mentally and physically too."
All three club members interviewed expressed their desire to maintain their involvement with archery even after they graduate.
They hope to join the alumni team and continue shooting while sharing their experience with their juniors.
Lofty goals are in store too, as Goh hoped the club would "strive for excellence, reach greater heights" and eventually, be "best in Singapore"!
By Gail Wan
