Junior archers comprised the majority of the tournament’s competitors.
THE recently concluded Pekanbaru Field Archery Tournament in Sumatra, Indonesia, attracted over 600 participants across various divisions, marking a significant milestone for the local archery community.
While the largest group of competitors came from primary schools, the event saw fewer adults and international archers, making the three-day tournament primarily a local affair with a promising future.
For many, particularly the younger archers, this was their first taste of competitive field archery.
The course featured six checkpoints across various terrains, offering a fresh challenge for many participants.
Tournament organiser Budi Setiawan expressed pride in the strong turnout, noting that it was the province’s first event of its kind.
“We’ve been overwhelmed by the enthusiasm from local archers,” he said. “This tournament wouldn’t have been possible without the support of our community leaders and the help of Sports Science students from the university, who served as event officials.”
Budi also emphasised efforts to attract foreign participants through social media, managing to secure a few entries from Malaysia, Thailand, and Singapore.
Shooting from a steep incline proved to be a real challenge for these first-timers.
“It was a great start,” he added. “We’re hopeful that future events will see even more international interest.”
Held at Lanchang Kuning University, about 15km from the city centre, the tournament aimed to introduce field archery to local enthusiasts.
The course featured six checkpoints across various terrains, offering a fresh challenge for many participants. Divisions were organised based on age and skill level, with the junior competitors leading the way during the opening ceremony.
The tournament took place around Lanchang Kuning University.
Day 2 spotlighted the Barebow division, where seasoned adult archers took centre stage.
In a closely contested competition, two Malaysian archers claimed the top spots. Veteran Hatri Asmawi from Malacca secured first place, while Selangor-based archer Sahairi Harun came in second. Local favourite Andy Setiawan rounded out the podium in third.
Reflecting on his success, Hatri said, “Everything I’ve trained for came together perfectly. This was my first field archery experience in Indonesia, and I couldn’t be happier with how it turned out.”
Malaysians Sahairi (left) and Hatri dominated in the adult Barebow division, clinching the top two podium spots.
Sahairi, who holds a national record in the Master’s division, expressed surprise at the tournament’s layout, noting, “There were only six checkpoints, which is unusual for field archery. Typically, we see up to 24 checkpoints in sanctioned tournaments, with marked and unmarked distances over two days.”
Despite the shorter course, he praised the tournament for effectively introducing the sport to a new audience. The final day saw the youth divisions compete, showcasing promising performances from the next generation of archers.
As the arrows flew and archers embraced the thrill of the course, one thing was certain: field archery in Pekanbaru is poised for growth, and this tournament was just the beginning for Sumatra’s burgeoning archery scene.
