KUCHING: Sarawak’s 24-member archery squad, blending seasoned seniors and promising juniors, is aiming for at least six gold medals at the Borneo Games 2025, said coach Jaffrey Low.
Low explained that the team comprises a mixture of SUKMA-level juniors and senior archers, including several former state players.
While the squad has no SEA Games representatives, one national-level archer in the Barebow category, Mohd Zullhannizam Mohamad Ali Bohan, will add depth to the lineup.
“We are targeting around six golds from 18 or 19 events this time.
“Initially, there were supposed to be 21 events, but with fewer participants in Barebow, the number could be slightly adjusted to around 18 or 19,” he told Sarawak Tribune when met at the Sarawak Archery Range today.
In terms of composition, the Recurve category will have eight competitors, most of them within SUKMA age (under 21).
The Compound squad also fields eight athletes, including three former state players, while the Barebow category is represented entirely by seniors, likewise with eight competitors.
Low noted that training has gone well, with centralised preparations beginning on September 16.
“So far so good. Everyone should be quite geared up. All the players are here except for one, who is still in college. In the afternoon he will arrive, but the rest are all here,” he added.
Despite the challenges of not fully knowing the strengths of other teams, particularly from Sabah and East Kalimantan, Low believes Sarawak’s archers stand a strong chance of reaching their targets.
“The chances are there. It’s just how we grab it,” he said.
