#Sharjah2019: Archers and swimmers target golds at IWAS World Games

12/02/2019

Both sports get underway on 13 February with swimming at the American University Sharjah and archery at the Al Tiqah Club for the Disabled.  

Archery and swimming are among the seven sports to be contested at the International Wheelchair and Amputee Sports Federation (IWAS) World Games in Sharjah, UAE, from 12-16 February.

Both sports get underway on 13 February with swimming at the American University Sharjah and archery at the Al Tiqah Club for the Disabled.

Take a look at some of the key names who will compete and follow the results at the IWAS website.

Archery

South Korea’s Ouk-Soo Lee and Dong-Sub Koo are targeting gold in archery as two of the top ranked players.

Lee is the world No.14 in the men’s compound individual open. A series of top 10 finishes have seen him secure his place in the world rankings, including a silver at the 2018 Asian Para Games in Jakarta, Indonesia, last October.

Lee was also part of the bronze-medal winning team in the mixed compound open from the Rio 2016 Paralympics.

Sub is the world No.13 in the men’s W1 individual. His ranking is also the result of a series of top 10 finishes at international competitions and he is hoping that he can deliver a golden performance at Sharjah 2019. It would follow on from his team silver in the men’s team W1 from Rio 2016.

Swimming

Thailand have entered a strong team of swimmers, all with medals from the 2017 IWAS World Games in Vila Real de Santo António in Portugal.

Natthaphone Wiprajong is defending a World Games title holder in the men’s 100m backstroke.

Patchara Singhmanon will also go for his second consecutive gold in the men’s 200m freestyle.

Phuchit Aingchaiyaphum and Ekapan Songwichean will be looking to improve on their various bronze and silver medals from men’s events in 2017 as will Monruedee Kangpila in the women’s.

Swimming will be contested as mixed class events.

More than 500 athletes from 45 countries will compete at the IWAS World Games 2019 in archery, athletics, badminton, shooting, swimming, table tennis and wheelchair fencing.

Most competitions will be sanctioned by the relevant International Federation and in some cases results will go towards the all-important world rankings which feed into Tokyo 2020 qualification.