Japanese College Student Win Silver Medal in World Crossbow Championship

Kazuki Imamura, sophomore of Tokai University, won the silver medal in crossbow in the Forest Division of the WCSA Crossbow World Championships in Florida, July 11-19.

Miss Imamura met crossbow only a year ago when she joined the Shooting Rifle Club in April last year. "I wanted to do a sport that tells win or loss nice and clear", she says. She had the rough time getting used to drawing a bow. "It takes such a power to pull that string", recalls Kazuki.

She trained three times a week to straighten her shooting form and build strength. Her instructor, Tomoo Umehara ( former lecturer, the School of Marine Science and Technology), recalls she was hardy, quite a hard loser and suited for a crossbow. "She was attentive to her seniors' advice", he comments, "that's what made her what she is today".

The last championship was an ideal stage for her debut in the crossbow. The Forest Division requires the participants to make two rounds of the twelve courses set in the forest and shoot the targets in the images of rabbit and such animals. Points differ by the distances to the target."It was tough to keep up your concentration while walking for three hours in the heat well over 30 degrees", recalls Kazuki. In the toughest of environments, she was conscious of the shooting form she had tried so hard to master.

Miss Kazuki Imamura is thankful to her instructor and seniors to whom she says she owes her feat. Her next target is the Japan Championship at the Tokai University Tumakoi Training Center in Gunma in September.

In the World Championship in Floria, Masanari Sonobe, sophomore, and Taiyo Ishigaki, junior, both of the School of Marine Science and Technology were placed 4th and 5th, respectively, in men's division of the Forest Division.

News Souce: Mainich Shimbun