Oceania youth athletes attend training camp ahead of Youth Olympic qualifier

Five youth athletes and their coaches attended a training camp in Dumbea, New Caledonia during the first week of July, just prior to the Pacific island hosting the 2018 World Archery Oceania Championships – where those same athletes have a chance to qualify for the upcoming Youth Olympic Games.

Tonga, Samoa and New Zealand sent archers to the camp, which was led by World Archery’s development agent in Oceania, Robert Turner.

“I’ve really enjoyed it and I’m feeling much more confident about my performance next week, as I have been able to acclimatise and shoot with some really good archers,” said New Zealand's Olivia Sloan.

Samoan archer Jil Walter added: “It is really good to train with people I have never met before.”

The Buenos Aires 2018 Youth Olympic Games places will be awarded at the end of the championships on 13 July.

The Oceania places for the Youth Olympic Games will be awarded on 13 July. Teams from Fiji, Samoa, Tonga, Australia (which already has a female place), New Zealand and Papua New Guinea all have a shot at the spots – one available for boys and one for girls.

The 2018 World Archery Oceania Championships and Youth Olympic Games continental qualifying tournament will be held in Paita, New Caledonia from 9 to 13 July.