PANGKALPINANG -- A total of 220 archery athletes in the Bangka Belitung Islands Province competed in the 2024 Timah Archery Competition held by PT Timah's Timah Archery Club (TAC) at the TAC field starting on 13-16 September 2024.
Timah Archery Competition is an archery competition held every year to support the achievements of archery athletes in Bangka Belitung in competitions.
There are nine competition categories contested in the 2024 Timah Archery Competition, namely National Under 9 years, Under 12 years, Under 15 years, Under 18 years, General National Standard, Barebow 30 meters, Barebow 50, compound 50, recurve 70 meters.
The opening of the 2024 Timah Archery Competition was also attended by athletes, Representatives of the Indonesian Archery Association (Perpani) Bangka Belitung, Abdul Hakim, Chairman of Baporseni PT Timah Ebi Wibisana and the committee.
Chief Executive and Chairman of TAC, Rio Wahyudi, said that the participants' enthusiasm for taking part in this activity was quite good. The reason is, hundreds of participants registered, some even from Belitung Island.
"Participants were quite enthusiastic about taking part in this activity, there were 220 athletes from 19 clubs who registered.
This tournament is to awaken the talents of Babylonian archery athletes. "How many times has TAC held events like this," he said.
According to him, TAC, which is one of the archery organizations under the auspices of PT Timah, wants to continue the company's ideals of making a positive contribution to the progress of archery sports, especially in producing athletes who are expected to make Bangka Belitung proud.
"This activity is fully supported by PT Timah and this is our effort to continue the company's ideals of supporting the progress of sports. Enthusiastic appreciation from participants, clubs, PT Timah, and sponsors," he said.
Meanwhile, the chairman of Baporseni PT Timah, Ebbi Wibisana, said that historically PT Timah had played an active role in supporting the progress of sports in Bangka Belitung, including archery.
"PT Timah continues to support the progress of sports in Bangka Belitung, including archery. With this competition, it is hoped that it will produce Babylonian archery athletes who will later be able to make Bangka Belitung proud," said Ebbi Wibisana.
Through this competition, it is hoped that it can also encourage athletes' enthusiasm for competition and training so that those who have not yet won can further intensify their training.
Head of the Perpani Bangka Belitung Organization Division, Abdul Hakim, said that PT Timah was a pioneer in supporting the progress of archery sports in Bangka Belitung.
"We hope that competitions like this can continue to be sustainable. Because Babel's archery athletes have to compete a lot in order to improve their quality. Because currently Babel's archery athletes still have to train and compete a lot," he said.
"As far as we know, PT Timah is one of the main movers and pioneers in supporting archery athletes in Babel. We hope that the athletes can also take advantage of this opportunity to train and compete well so they can improve their achievements," he said.
One of the archery athletes who took part in this competition, Avin Ayab from South Bangka, said that he had prepared himself to take part in this competition. This week they practice regularly.
"This past week we trained intensely to prepare for the championship, usually twice a week. I hope there will be many more archery championship events in Bangka Belitung so that we can hone our skills," said this member of the Junjung Besaoh Archery Club.
Avin will compete in the 70 meter recurve category. For him, what needs to be prepared for this match is equipment, mentality and ability to aim at the archery board. (*)
