NUS OUTDOOR 2001  
 
National archers show poor form
  
 
But AAS is not worried as SEA Games are still eight months away
  
     
 
By Chan Tau Chou
  
     
  Only one of 10 national archers made it to the last four of the Individual Olympic knockout (Open Class) at the NUS Invitational Archery Competition on Sunday. But officials of the Archery Association of Singapore are unperturbed.  
     
 
Aiming to do well in the SEA Games, AAS' Cheng Jun (left) maybe well-advised to recruit Edward Tseng (second from left). -- LIM SIN THAI Cheng Jun, its vice-president, was that sole archer. He came in second to Edward Tseng, a third-year student at the Nanyang Technological University.

'We have to time ourselves to peak for the South-east Asia Games in September,' said the 47-year-old, who represented Singapore at the World Championships in 1985 and 1995.
Aiming to do well in the SEA Games, AAS' Cheng Jun (left) maybe well-advised to recruit Edward Tseng (second from left). -- LIM SIN THAI  
 
     
  'Our last tournament was the one Safsa organised last November. Since then, with the festive season and the bad weather, we have not been able to train properly.'

'The NUS usually holds this tournament in June or July. This time it's in January, so we haven't really peaked yet. It's not uncommon for upsets to happen in archery.'

Frankie Hoong, an international judge with the International Archery Federation and assistant coach for the national team, said: 'I'm surprised at the final results. But it also has to do with the difference between the format of this tournament and that of international meets like the SEA Games.

'Usually, archers shoot 18 arrows for each round from the elimination stage onwards. Once it's down from 64 to eight archers, they shoot 12 arrows.

'Because of time constraints, this tournament required archers to shoot six arrows for all the rounds. That calls for mental focus since there's less room for mistakes.

'So maybe our archers were a bit relaxed today because it's just a warm-up tournament for them.'

Choo Yong Kwong and his younger brother Christopher, both from Whampoa CC, came in third and fourth respectively.

'It's just as well that this tournament uses such a format,' said the former.

'It probably affected the rhythm of the national archers. For us it's better to shoot fewer arrows, since we're not as fit.'

Tseng scored 52 out of a possible 60 in the final tussle with Cheng to win the men's title.

'I was confident once I got to the elimination stage because my coach Frankie was there to encourage me,' said Tseng, who practises five times a week.

'On average, I shot 10 to 20 points higher than I usually do. If selected, I'd definitely want to take part in the SEA Games.'

To that, Cheng said: 'He is new to the scene but he's quite good. If he keeps up his form, there's a good chance that he'll be selected for the national squad.'

Results (winners only)
Men's Individual Open: Edward Tseng (NTU), 599 (out of 720)
Ladies' Individual Open: Florence Ling (ACS), 542 Best Distance for 70m, 122cm face (Open): Edward Tseng (NTU), 303 (out of 360) 		 
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