Fairytale run

They came to Myanmar without expectations but are leaving Nay Pyi Taw with a Gold and a Silver in the bag. For Singapore's Archery team, the harvest at this year's SEA Games has been rich, to say the least.

A Bonus

The fairytale story of the team hit its high with Chan Jing Ru's Gold medal in the Women's Individual Recurve event. This was followed by a Silver medal in the Mixed Team Recurve event where Jing Ru struck good chemistry with Tan Si Lie. Putting things in perspective, coach Sng Beow Leng said, "We just came here to do our best, and the results were really a bonus."

Future Success

This morning, however, the trio of Jing Ru, Vanessa Toh and Lui Su Lin lost to Thailand (188-197) in the quarterfinals of the Women's Team Recurve event. Nonetheless, they have had an excellent outing here. Coach Leng - as she is affectionately known - said this will be a platform for future success. "Hopefully, these results will show people back home that Archery is a rising sport. In this way, we can recruit more archers and build a bigger talent pool for the next SEA Games in 2015," she added.

Great Potential

Noting that the present team can go as far as they want in the sport if they put their minds to it, coach Leng said, "When they believe in themselves, they will know that they can do it - just like what Jing Ru has achieved here at the SEA Games." With proper physical training, mental strength and skill improvements, this batch of archers can make good progress. "We've seen great potential in them," she said, adding that they would benefit from the right support and guidance.