Tonga host the 2016 Archery Championships and Continental Qualifying Tournament ^Featured

Six teams from the Oceania member countries are participating in the week-long event which includes Australia, New Zealand, Tahiti, New Caledonia, Fiji and Tonga.

Secretary of Tonga Archery Foundation, Mrs Tukia Tatafu said athletes from all teams will participate in three major competing events which are the Oceania Archery Championships, the Commonwealth Championships and the Continental Qualifying Tournament.

She said the Continental Qualifying Tournament event is the chance for the athletes to compete for a spot in the Rio 2016 Olympic Games which will take place later this year in Mexico.

“There are two spots opened for women and two for men to qualify for the 2016 Olympic Game in Rio and we’re hoping Tonga will have a spot in it.”

She explained that this is the first time for Tonga to host such events to qualify athletes for the Olympic Games without sending them overseas as expected.

“As usual, athletes are sent overseas to participate in events qualifying to the Olympic but today, this is the only event and for the first time for Tonga to qualify athletes to join the Olympic. Assistance from the TAF and the government of Tonga has managed us to further our resources and improve our facilities before inviting the participating countries to Tonga for the championships.”

President of the World Archery Oceania, Mr. Hans Jensen who is based in Tonga said yesterday was the official practice day for competitors to adjust to the environment and the battle of participating countries for someone to represent Oceania to the Olympic Games in Rio.

The Archery Sport was first introduced to Tonga in 1998 where Lord Dalgety was the recent President of the World Archery Oceania.

Issued from the Ministry of Meteorology, Energy, Information, Disaster Management, Environment, Climate Change and Communications