Model-archer Dellie hopes to popularise sport at home

Many people actually recognise me as a model first.

Dellie Threesyadinda

DELLIE Threesyadinda (pic) may be one of Indonesia’s top archers, but many have mistaken her for a model.

And why wouldn’t they given her good looks?

The 27-year-old beauty from Surabaya has cashed in on her looks by appearing on several TV commercials, including for electronic giants Samsung and beauty product Marina.

“Many people actually recognise me as a model first,” said Dellie, who has 13,400 followers on Instagram.

“But I’m really grateful to archery because it was through the sport that I got the opportunity to become a product ambassador.

“I hope that with the media exposure, I can help to popularise the sport in my country,” said Dellie, who many say resemble popular Indonesian actress Revalina S. Temat.

Dellie credits her mother Lilies Handayani for her love for archery.

Lilies was part of the three-member Indonesian team who finished runners-up to South Korea at the 1988 Seoul Olympics.

It was Indonesia’s first-ever medal at the Olympic Games.

“I wouldn’t have been an archer if not for my mum,” said Dellie.

“I followed her to the archery range almost every day. Then, when I was just five, she gave me a tiny little bow and arrow to try out at a 5m-target in our backyard.

“From that moment, I told her ‘mum, I want to be just like you’ and she has groomed me since then.

“When I was seven, I won my first gold medal in an age-group local tournament. At 17, I made the national team.”

Dellie started off as a recurve archer before switching to the compound discipline to join forces with her mother and aunt Lilies Herliati.

The trio did the country proud by clinching the team silver at the 2007 World Cup in Dover, England.

Dellie bagged her second World Cup medal – a bronze – in Antalya, Turkey, last year.

Her best individual achievement came when she won the 2013 Asian Grand Prix (now known as the Asia Cup).

Dellie, though, hasn’t had much luck in the KL 2017, with only a team bronze to show for.

She lost in the quarter-finals of the mixed team event with Prima Wisnu Wardhana yesterday and also in the individual bronze playoff to Malaysia’s Fatin Nurfatehah Mat Salleh.

But she’s done quite well in her six SEA Games appearances, winning one gold, three silvers and one bronze.

Her best SEA Games outing was at Naypyidaw 2013 when she won the team gold and individual silver. She also won the individual silver at Korat 2007.