Namibian archers shine at African Archery Champs

Archery
Mariud Ngula
The 2024 African Genesis Archery (AGA) Federation Championships was hosted by AGA Namibia in Walvis Bay municipal hall last weekend. The competition was attended by over 200 archers from four African countries.

The championships saw archers from South Africa, Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Namibia contest their marksmanship for coveted titles in the Adult Archery Generation (AAG) team, National team and Development team, competing in Bull’s Eye, 3D and Overall categories.

The AAG Namibian team secured a bronze medal, trailing South Africa, which took gold, and Botswana, which claimed silver.

The National team earned an overall silver medal, finishing ahead of Botswana, who won bronze, but behind South Africa, who clinched the gold.

The Development team, meanwhile, continued its winning streak by securing a gold medal for the third consecutive year. South Africa placed second, followed by Zimbabwe in third.

Notable achievements

AGA Namibia Federation president Poenie Weakley said there were notable achievements at the competition, pointing out that Alyssa van Zijl (AAG) from Pro-Ed Academy secured a bronze medal in the individual 3D category.

Ronelle Raes (AAG) from Moria earned three silver individual medals in the 3D, BE and combined categories.

From the Development team, Duan Kruger from Roots Gymnasium won a silver medal in the individual 3D category. At the same time, Christoph Schutz from Pro-Ed claimed a gold medal in the same category.

Janu Coetzee from Berg-Op won a gold medal in the individual BE category and a silver in the individual overall category.

Burton Weakley from Windhoek High School (National) had an impressive performance, winning three silver medals in the individual categories for 3D, BE and combined, along with three bronze medals for the overall tournament category.

The federation also announced that, for the first time, there are five out of 16 Namibian archers in the AGA Federation team. The team includes Jason Koch and Anielka Hayward from Danie Joubert Combined School, Ashton Ntsamba from Lighthouse Community Hope, Oliver Rothkegel from Central Elite Archery Club and Burton Weakley from Windhoek High School.

The federation is currently planning its next shoot, which will be the national event on 21 September at a venue to be announced. “Namibia will also be hosting the AGA World Championships in Swakopmund next year,” said Poenie.

Sponsors

The competition was sponsored by Santam Namibia, Barend De Waal, Walvis Bay Private Hgh School, Capricorn Group, Sonja Viviers, Karin van Zijl, Fabupharm, Boetie Liebenberg, Butt Archery Supplies, Renier Els, Ronelle Raes, Optimizer, Renee van Watzdorf, Kleine Kuppe Guesthouse, Aspasia Agency, Paratus, Pro Distribution, Southern Motor Meca, Kronenhof Lodge, Mariental Chamber of Commerce, Pupkewitz Foundation, Gravity Live, Anchen Schott, Shoprite and Checkers, Francois Bou, Ben Esterhuizen, Willie Krugel, Wendell Visser, Johan Wilders, Pieter Kotze, Waldo van Wyk, Agra Mariental, Ry en Kry Slaghuis, Desert Pro, Bank Windhoek, Multichoice Namibia, Antoinette Kotze, Anandi Gastehuis and Gereformeerde Kerk Swakopmund, which worked alongside supporters, officials, archers, coaches and parents.
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