The Mauritian archery team made a strong return to the international scene. They participated in the South Africa Nationals, held from April 4 to 6 at Marks Park Sports Club in Johannesburg. It was their first global competition in nearly two years. Despite the long break, they earned five medals—one gold, three silver, and one bronze.
Gold Medal for Bissessur in U18 Archery
Yugveer Bissessur won the only gold medal for Mauritius. He competed in the Under-18 boys’ category. He shot from 60 meters. During the qualifying round, he placed first with 545 points. He stayed focused throughout. In the final, he beat fellow Mauritian Firyad Runjeet, winning 6–4.
Moreover, Runjeet scored 515 points in the qualifiers and secured the silver medal. Meanwhile, Muhammad Sardar and William Shiu, also from Mauritius, finished in fourth and sixth place in the same event.
Chan Earns Silver in 70m Recurve Archery
Ryan Chan performed well in the men’s recurve event at 70 meters. He placed second in the qualification round with 622 points. In the final, he faced South Africa’s Werner Potgieter. Although Chan fought hard, he lost 4–6. Still, he earned the silver medal.
Bronze Medal for Kwok in Women’s Recurve
Anastasia Kwok impressed in the women’s 70-meter recurve event. She qualified in fourth place with 316 points. In the semi-final, South African Catharina Whitehead defeated her. Whitehead went on to win the gold medal. As a result, Kwok secured the bronze.
Mauritian Duo Takes Silver in Mixed Archery
Ryan Chan and Anastasia Kwok teamed up for the mixed team event at 70 meters. They advanced to the final. However, they lost 4–5 to South Africa’s Connor Young and Catharina Whitehead. Despite the loss, they proudly took home a silver medal.
Mauritian Archers Gain Experience in Compound Events
Coach Henri How competed in the compound category with Adrien Charoux. Both reached the round of 16. However, their opponents eliminated them. Although they did not secure medals, the experience proved valuable for future competitions.
Coach How Highlights the Value of Experience
Coach Henri How said this event was key to developing young talent. He mentioned that Bissessur, Runjeet, and Sardar are being considered for the 2026 Youth Olympic Games in Dakar. He added that their performances were promising. However, more training is needed to reach the Olympic level.
Moreover, How praised the senior team. He noted that their hard work in training showed clear results, especially in recurve events. Nevertheless, he acknowledged that compound archery remains a challenge. South African athletes are still stronger in this field.
Tough Competition from Across the Region
Over 150 archers competed in the South Africa Nationals. They came from South Africa, Namibia, and Zimbabwe. Despite stiff competition, Mauritius stood out through focus and teamwork.
African Championships Set as the Next Goal
Mauritius is now preparing for the African Championships. This event is expected to take place in November. The host country has not yet been announced. According to Coach How, this competition will be a major goal for the team as they continue to improve.
Archery in Mauritius on the Rise
The Mauritian archery team returned with more than just medals. Moreover, they gained valuable experience and confidence. With one gold, three silver, and one bronze, they proved that their training is paying off. As they aim for bigger events, like the Youth Olympics and African Championships, the team is clearly on the right track. Championships, the team is on the right track.
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