A bronze to spare the blushes

national archery squad were spared the blushes when the men’s compound team clinched a bronze medal at the Asian Games in Jakarta yesterday.

Juwaidi Mazuki, Lee Kin Lip and Alang Ariff Aqil Ghazali held their nerve to edge Taiwan 225-223 in the third-place playoff.

Kin Lip hopes the medal will help the compound discipline to get more support in the future.

“We have proven that we are capable of winning an Asian Games medal. It is up to the authorities to decide on whether we should be included into the Podium Programme,” said the Sabah-born yesterday.

The national compound archers had only competed in two international meets in the lead up to the Games.

Kin Lip believes they could have achieved a better result had there been more exposure.

Juwaidi echoed Kin Lin’s sentiments. “With a little exposure overseas, I think we would have been better prepared in terms of analysing our rivals at the Games.

“I believe this sport (compound) will have a brighter future if we have a permanent coach and a more-organised programme.”

Adnan Ahmad’s charges were not expected to deliver in Indonesia. The podium finish is the archery squad’s only medal at the Games.

The discipline was introduced at the Incheon edition four years ago.

The men’s recurve team, who are part of the Podium Programme, were expected to repeat their silver medal feat from Incheon.

However, they were upset by minnows Iran in the first round.