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Local archer wants to shoot bullseyes at the Youth Games

A young archer from Pretoria is confident that he will return with a medal from the coming Youth Olympic Games in South America.

“Got a silver medal, want more…” This is the attitude with which the Tuks archer, Wian Roux, will be competing from this weekend at the Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires.

Roux has got just reason to be confident. He has just returned from Lausanne, Switzerland where he trained for ten days at the Archery Academy of Excellence. He estimates that he must have shot at least 3 800 arrows under the supervision of a former Spanish Olympian medallist and a Korean coach who medalled at the Junior World Championships.

“We trained for about four to five hours each day. It really helped to have such experienced coaches on hand who is able to point out when you make a mistake immediately. They were also continually giving us tips as to the do’s and don’ts of competing in a major competition. Getting to learn from the best helped me to believe in my abilities,” said the Grade 10-learner from Hoërskool Menlopark.

“Archery is all about confidence. You are bound to shoot one or two bad arrows. The secret is not to let it get to you. If you do it is game over,” said Wian Roux before his departure to the Youth Olympics.
Photo: Supplied

Roux said he is certainly not going to Argentina just to make up the numbers.

“If I can keep my cool and remain focused I could be in contention to medal. Archery is all about confidence. You are bound to shoot one or two bad arrows. The secret is not to let it get to you. If you do it is game over,” he explained.

Earlier this year during the African Youth Championships in Algiers the Tuks archer won a silver medal. Roux is of the opinion if it was not for one bad shot he could have won the gold medal.

“With one round to go in the final the score was level at 4-all. Unfortunately, my aim was slightly off with one arrow and that cost me big time. I had to settle for the silver medal,” Roux concluded.

 

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Koos Venter

Koos Venter is an experienced journalist who started his career 35 years ago, before the days of cellphones, modern computer systems, the internet and digital cameras, as a correspondent for Nexus, the former national magazine of the Department of Correctional Services. He has since worked for various other publications in all aspects of news coverage, as a columnist and in the production side of newspapers and online publications. Since 2007 he has specialized as a sports writer, while he is also regularly used as an analyst and commentator by several radio stations.
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