The opening leg of the 2026 WAP-PSC Philippine National Archery Championship Qualifier in Cauayan City drew a large field of athletes competing at the Benjamin Dy Sports Complex. The event marked the start of a national series that will determine rankings and future national team selections across multiple divisions.

Hundreds of archers from different regions took part in the competition, reflecting the continued expansion of the sport at the grassroots level. The qualifier serves as a structured pathway toward national finals scheduled later in the year.

Garcia delivers record-breaking performance

Juliana Vernice Garcia produced the standout result of the opening leg after scoring 662 points in the recurve 72-arrow round. The 17-year-old from Pasig City delivered a composed and consistent performance that placed her ahead of the field.

Her score set a new Philippine record and immediately elevated her standing within the national program. Officials described the result as a reflection of the improving depth of talent within the country’s archery system.

World Archery Philippines president Jonathan “Bing” Reaport attributed rising performance levels to the introduction of South Korean Olympic coaches Ryu Su Jeng and Hong Sun Chil. Their training methods have raised technical standards and increased scoring consistency across age groups.

Garcia now leads a developing group of women’s recurve athletes that includes Naina Tagle, Emmie Peredo, and Abby Bidaure. These athletes are being evaluated for long-term inclusion in the national training pool.

The men’s and compound divisions continue to undergo parallel development as part of a broader national restructuring program aimed at improving international competitiveness.

National program builds toward Olympic cycle

Philippine archery is aligning its development strategy toward the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, where the sport will feature six medal events including a mixed team compound category. This expansion has increased focus on both recurve and compound progression systems.

South Korea remains the dominant force in Olympic archery, supported by a centralized training system that has produced decades of consistent results. Philippine officials are working to adapt similar principles to local development programs.

Coach Ryu Su Jeng brings Olympic-level experience to the national setup after previously guiding South Korea to multiple gold medal performances. Coach Hong Sun Chil adds additional international expertise from his work with elite programs in Iran and China.

The Philippine Sports Commission plans to establish a Regional Training Center at the Benjamin Dy Sports Complex to support long-term athlete development. The Cauayan qualifier is the first of four ranking legs leading to national finals and final selection for the national training pool.