After missing out the 2015 Pacific Games, Archery Fiji is confident of putting up a good performance at the 2019 Pacific Games in Apia, Samoa on July 6-20.

Speaking to SUNsports yesterday, Archery Fiji secretary Ajay Ballu said preparations are on track as they will be hosting their first tri­als on Sunday.

“Preparations are going on well for the team and we are at having our first trials this Sunday. We’re hoping to take six athletes and two officials to the games,” Ballu said

“The team actually went to New Zealand a week ago where five play­ers competed and put up a good per­formance.

“They participated in NZ’s out­door national target competition where they competed among top archers from New Caledonia, Ta­hiti and Samoa.

“Robert Elder, who is an elite arch­er, won two silver medals and Fred Loata won a bronze.

“And in addition we’ve young archers who have improved their performance as well.

“And as a result they finished on the top six positions. The athletes are really do¬ing well so we will just have to push them before nam­ing the final squad during the Fiji Games in April.

“And straight after competition the team will be travelling to Neth­erlands for a world championship for the men’s team.

“It is also the men’s qualifier for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. The Fiji Archery will host the Oceania Championship next year.”

“Our greatest challenge at the mo­ment is the unfavorable weather condition experienced that’s affect­ing our training session as this is an outdoor sport so we need a fine weather to get our usual training follow.”

Edited by Osea Bola

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