Tonga has welcomed coaches and para-athletes from across the Pacific for the first regional Para Archery Coaching Course and Training Camp for Oceania member federations, marking a milestone in the development of inclusive sport in the region.
The five-day programme, held at Liahona from 15 to 19 July, brings together participants from Tonga, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu. Organised by World Archery and World Archery Oceania, the course is designed to strengthen coaching expertise and improve opportunities for para-archers throughout Oceania.
Representatives from Tonga. Image: World Archery Oceania
The initiative is led by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) and the Sub-Regional Technical Training Group (STTG), with funding support for eligible National Paralympic Committees.
Expert facilitators from Archery GB, including trainers Andy Rikunenko and Nat Merry, worked alongside World Archery Oceania Development Officer Cushla Matheson to deliver practical and classroom-based sessions.
Throughout the week, coaches and athletes collaborated on adaptive coaching techniques, shared ideas and developed modified equipment to better support archers with disabilities.
Participants later applied their new skills by delivering supervised training sessions before taking part in an innovative competition known as the Oceania Para Archery League (OPAL).
Image: World Archery Oceania
Fiji’s Leslie claimed the gold medal in the match-play event, with Solomon Islands’ Rose taking silver and Vanuatu’s Jeffery winning bronze.
World Archery Oceania said the programme aims to build technical capacity while expanding para-archery pathways across the Pacific.
It is the first dedicated regional para coaching course for Oceania member federations and reflects growing efforts to make the sport more accessible and competitive throughout the region.
