Paarl archer, Estelle Jacobs, has once again proven herself to be a force to be reckoned with on the international stage, returning home from the World Indoor Archery Championships held in the UK with a silver medal. The tournament, held from 13 to 18 February at the Medway Sports Centre in Gillingham, Kent, saw archers from 27 countries compete across a range of styles and categories.
Receiving her Protea colours and representing South Africa in the Veteran Female Freestyle Unlimited category, Jacobs ended day 1 of the competition in fifth position. However, her incredible skill and determination saw her make a stunning comeback on day 2, setting a new Flint world record of 277/280 and moving up to second place overall, which she held onto until the end of the tournament.
This latest achievement adds to Jacobs’ already impressive list of accomplishments. Prior to the 2023 championships she had already competed in three world championships, winning gold in Romania in 2017 and gold in New Zealand in 2019, where she also set a world record with a full score of 900/900 over three days and silver in Switzerland.
Archery is a sport that requires a great deal of upper body strength, core stability, hand-eye coordination, focus, and balance, making it an excellent activity for individuals of all ages to try. In fact, Jacobs’ success at the World Indoor Archery Championships serves as an inspiration to those who may be interested in picking up the sport themselves.
For any schools or organisations interested in exploring the sport of archery, the Paarl Valley Archery Club can provide information and guidance. With the next World Indoor Archery Championships set to take place in Argentina in 2025, now is the perfect time to start practising.
