Women woefully off target

2010/02/09

By Devinder Singhdevinder@nst.com.my

THE performance of the national women recurve archers is increasingly becoming a cause for concern after none made the quarter-finals of the Asian Grand Prix meet in Taman Keramat yesterday. National recurve coach Lee Jang-hyun wore a worried look as S. Anbarasi put in one of her worst displays in a 110-90 second round defeat to Chekrovolu Surwo of India.

Noor Aziera Taip, who with Anbarasim are the only two experienced archers in the women's squad, was edged 101-99 by Anastasya Bannova of Kazakhstan while youngster Nur Amirah Mohamad was unlucky to be drawn against top seed Choi Jin of South Korea, who won 103-100.

"I expected better from Anbarasi and Aziera as they are the experienced ones in the team but maybe being the first competition of the year, their performance was not up to the mark," said Jae-hyun at the National Sports Council archery range.

"We don't have anyone in the recurve women's quarter-finals as the rest are all juniors who only had three weeks training with the senior team after being promoted.

"We still have time to groom these young archers so that we can have a strong women's team in the future. They just need more exposure."

S. Anbarasi (right) and India’s Chekrovolu Surwo check their scores in the second round of the Asian Grand Prix meet in Taman Keramat yesterday. Chekrovolu won 110-90. — NST picture by MOHD YUSNI ARIFFIN

In contrast, the men were in top form with Cheng Chu Sian, who set a national record in the 70m on Sunday, continuing his fine run by posting the highest score of the elimination stage in beating Oibek Saidiyev of Kazakhstan 115-103 in the second round.

He was joined in the last eight by Arif Farhan Ibrahim Putra, who edged India's Kapil 10-8 on extra arrows after the match ended 107-107.

But Fazli Hisham Fauzi, another archer recently promoted to the senior side, crashed 115-101 to South Korea's Gu Dong-nam.

"Fazli is still learning and with more competitions, he will learn to handle himself better. He was just too tense when he knew he was meeting a South Korean," said Jae-hyun.

Five Malaysians advanced to the men's compound quarter-finals led by 'Mr Perfect' Lang Hon Keong, who shot a memorable 120 perfect score in last year's meet here.

Kelvin Hoo and Kaharuddin Asah joined Hon Keong in the last eight while one Malaysian is guaranteed a semi-final spot after Lau Siew Hong and Zaki Mahazan set up a quarter-final meeting with each other.