The 2024 Indoor World Series- Taipei Archery Open kicked off on December 6, marking Taipei’s third consecutive year hosting the event, which has received widespread acclaim. Former Spanish Olympic gold medalist Juan Holgado, who has extensive experience organizing international archery events, visited Taipei with the World Archery and was deeply impressed by the tournament’s execution.
“I know about the venue change, and I understand how challenging it is to reset everything, but the overall setup is now excellent. The flooring, lighting, and large screens are fantastic. As an archer, I’m delighted that athletes can compete in such a great environment,” Holgado said. Originally planned for the NTSU Arena, the event was relocated to the Chang Gung University of Science and Technology Gymnasium due to unforeseen circumstances.
Holgado won a team gold medal in men’s archery for Spain at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics. He later coached Olympic teams twice and served on the organizing committees for the Olympic archery events three times, establishing himself as a true archery expert. Currently a senior executive member of the World Archery Federation, Holgado frequently travels worldwide to conduct seminars and train coaches and athletes, making multiple visits to Taipei over the years.
“Archery is my life,” Holgado declared, explaining that he feels a responsibility to give back to the sport. During his time as an athlete and coach, he faced numerous challenges due to the lack of information and support available at the time. He hopes to prevent others from encountering the same struggles. “I enjoy helping them grow faster and more efficiently while supporting coaches in doing their jobs well. That’s what drives me,” he said.
Holgado transitioned to coaching under unexpected circumstances after being forced into retirement. Over the past 17 years, he has organized more than 10 events annually. Laughing, he admitted he still has the itch to compete and would love to return as an athlete. “In my era, archery was boring and hard to watch. It was difficult for audiences to understand. Now it’s simple and engaging, and I’d love to shoot again—but I just don’t have the time.”
George Tekmitchov, a technical advisor for well-known archery equipment brands Easton and Hoyt, added that rule changes in the Olympics 30 years ago were pivotal in transforming archery from an ancient craft into a modern competitive sport. Since archery adopted head-to-head matches, it has attracted more spectators, even those unfamiliar with the sport.
An American and former archer himself, Tekmitchov was a three-time member of the All-American collegiate team and later worked as a TV news anchor in New York. His archery background eventually led the World Archery to recruit him as a commentator for archery events. Having first visited Taipei in 2014 for the Asian Archery Grand Prix, this is his third trip to the island.
“Taipei is incredibly welcoming and makes my experience enjoyable. The local association and staff are highly professional, efficient, and fun to work with. You’ve mastered the balance of efficiency and a relaxed attitude, making collaboration here so easy,” Tekmitchov said.
