OTTAWA, ON – Archery Canada is pleased to announce the National Recurve Training Squad (NTS), following the confirmation of Athlete Assistance carding from Sport Canada. For 2023, the NTS will consist of the 9 carded athletes who will work under the coaching leadership and collaboration of the new Interim National Coach Advisor, Ron van der Hoff, the Junior Recurve Coach, Soha Mahmoud, and their personal coaches.
The carded athletes named to the National Recurve Training Squad are:
- Andrew Azores (ON)
- Andrew Smollett (AB)
- Ben Lee (ON)
- Devaang Gupta (ON)
- Eleanor Brug (BC)
- Eric Peters (ON)
- Reece Wilson-Poyton (ON)
- Stephanie Barrett (ON)
- Virginie Chénier (QC)
Some of the members of this year’s NTS have limited competitive experience at the World level, however there is a good mix of athletes, representing four provinces. Of the male archers, Eric Peters stands out as the most experienced in the group with multiple World Cups and World Championships, followed by Andrew Azores and Devaang Gupta, who have had recent experience at the World Cup level. The three will help to lead younger newcomers to the NTS in Andrew Smollett and Reece Wilson-Poyton. Ben Lee will be competing for selection to make his debut at Senior World Cup level after competing in multiple World Youth Championships and the Youth Olympics in 2018.
Stephanie Barrett, the only Olympian on the squad, will once again be part of the NTS, after competing at three World Cup stages and the Pan Am Championships last year. Virginie Chénier has most recently competed at the 2021 World Archery Championships with experience at multiple World Cups and World Championships through her career. Eleanor Brug is the newest member of the squad and is looking to build on her performance at the most recent 2022 Pan Am Championships; Brug shot her way to the bronze medal match; Archery Canada looks forward to seeing what she does in the 2023 season.
While veterans Crispin Duenas, also an Olympian, along with Brian Maxwell, Brandon Xuereb, and Conner Sorley are not on the current carded list, the selection process to key events in 2023 will provide opportunity for athletes outside of the NTS.
Important events to look forward to this season include Canadian attendance at three World Cup stages, World Archery Championships, as well as the Pan American Games at the end of the year. Both the Pan American Games and World Archery Championships have significant importance this year, providing key opportunities for qualification for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
-30-
For more information, please contact:
Zoe Meil, Communications & Safe Sport Coordinator
(613) 260-2113 ext. 3