World university archery contest opens in Shenzhen

THE 8th World University Archery Championships opened at Shenzhen Stadium in Futian District on Thursday.

The four-day championships are a test for the 2011 Universiade (World University Games), which will be held in Shenzhen.

Attending the opening ceremony were a total of 190 athletes and officials from 26 countries, including George E. Killian, president of the International University Sports Federation (FISU), Wu Yihuan, vice mayor and chairwoman of the championships organizing committee, and Liang Daoxing, vice chairman of the Executive Committee and director-general of the Executive Office.

The competition kicks off with an individual ranking round at the 3,500-seat stadium Friday.

The individual eliminations and finals will be held Saturday. The team eliminations and finals and the mixed team event will be held Sunday.

Participating countries have sent top archers to Shenzhen, including Daniel Wido, who won the U.S. National Archery Championship in May.

The Chinese team said it had worked hard to prepare for the event and hoped for a satisfactory result in both the individual and team finals.

Other teams were excited about both the competition and the city. A traditional Chinese lion dance performed after the ceremony won thunderous applause.

Piotr Piatek, a student in his 20s from Wszechnica Svietokrzysua University in Kielce, Poland, was confident that the Polish team would make its way to the final.

“I’ve been practicing archery for 16 years and our team members have good skills and team spirit,” Piatek said.

A total of 150 volunteers from local colleges are assisting during the championship, with 36 working as scorers.

Organized by FISU, the championship and the Universiade are platforms for university students from all over the world to compete, exchange ideas and build friendship, Liang Daoxing said.

The championship is being conducted in the same way the Universiade will be organized, and is being used as an opportunity to promote the Universiade across the city and attract national and international attention, officials said.

Further test events will be held before the Universiade, which is due to open Aug. 12 next year.

Source: Shenzhen Daily