The 2024 Indoor World Series 250- Taipei ArcheryOpen recently commenced at Chang Gung University of Science and Technology in Taoyuan City. On December 7, the men’s and women’s recurve semifinals were held, with a record-breaking 637 participants this year. Among them, Japan’s Ruka Uehara stood out, advancing all the way to the championship match on December 8. Known for her striking resemblance to local celebrity Patty Hou, Uehara has gained a significant fan base, achieving success both in skill and popularity.
Taipei Archery Open saw a significant increase in participants, jumping from 428 last year to 637 this year. In addition to the largest contingent from the host country, there were 74 athletes from Singapore, 65 from Hong Kong, and 39 from South Korea, highlighting intense competition. This also provided Chinese Taipei archers with opportunities to compete against international talents, including South Korean star Kang Chaeyoung and France’s 17-year-old rising star Baptiste Addis, who made a splash at this year’s Paris Olympics.
At just 23 years old, Ruka Uehara is currently a member of NGK Spark Plug Co., Ltd., which has a branch in Taipei. This has given her some familiarity with the city. “I’ve been here a few times before, but it was always for training. The weather here is great. Winters in Japan are very cold, but in Taipei, you just need to wear a long-sleeve shirt,” she said.
Uehara began archery in middle school, initially drawn to the sport because “archers looked so cool.” She later demonstrated her talent, winning a team gold medal at the 2017 World Youth Championships and a silver medal at the World Cup. Unfortunately, she narrowly missed qualifying for the Paris Olympics. “It was really heartbreaking. I cried a lot during that time. I could be doing nothing, and suddenly I’d think about it and start crying,” she said with a laugh.
Due to her growing popularity and outstanding performance today, many archery fans approached Uehara during breaks for autographs and photos. She graciously obliged, expressing her happiness at feeling everyone’s support. “I feel very lucky, and I’ll try to achieve even better results as I aim for the Los Angeles Olympics,” she said.
Interestingly, Uehara’s gear features fun elements from Japanese pop culture. She carries an “Invincible Star” charm similar to the one famously used by Taipei’s baseball team in the WBSC Premier12 tournament. Her tripod also has a green mushroom icon representing an extra life in video games. “This is the ‘Invincible Star’! With it, I’m invincible!” she joked.
Among those who asked for a photo was Taipei’s own rising star, Hsu Hsin-tzu from San Min High School. Hsu, ranked 6th in the qualification round, made it to the quarterfinals before bowing out but gained valuable experience along the way. Two years ago, at just 15 years old, Hsu signed up for the U21 category, and in the past two years, she has stepped up to compete in the elite division, facing off against world-class opponents.
“My goal for this trip was to make it to the quarterfinals, and I’m pretty satisfied that I actually did,” Hsu said. She noted the differences between indoor and outdoor competitions, particularly in lighting, space, and perspective. “I met many famous players, so I was a little nervous. Losing by just one point early on can make all the difference,” she added.
