Indonesia’s Pangestu calls early spot for 2024 Olympics a ‘relief’

ATHLETE SPOTLIGHT is presented by WIAWIS.

Arif Pangestu is looking to improve his record on archery’s biggest stage this summer.

At 16, the Indonesian recurve man was one of the youngest archers at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics – and his maiden campaign at the Games ended in a loss to European Games Champion Florian Unruh in the first round.

But at the 2023 Hyundai World Archery Championships last summer, Pangestu flashed deeper quality.

He won Indonesia an Olympic quota spot for Paris 2024 by finishing fourth.

“[I was] very relieved, because I was able to get the Olympic quota at the first event,” said Pangestu. Competition in Berlin heralded the beginning of the qualification period.

“It feels like I was given a second chance to compete in the Olympics and I will try my best to get the best result [there].”

Should Pangestu ultimately be confirmed to take up the spot for Paris – he’ll compete at his second Games aged just 20.

Having taken a team bronze with Indonesia at last year’s Asian Games – and then at the Asian Championships shortly afterwards – Pangestu’s picked up some big stage experience in the meantime.

Tokyo was, astonishingly, his international competition debut.

“The 2020 Olympics was the best experience because it was the biggest event,” he said. “Competing with the best athletes, in uncertain weather, and under great pressure.”

“I was nervous, but I’m sure Paris will be better.”

Unlike some of his contenders, Pangestu did not participate in the test event last summer at Les Invalides – the home of Olympic archery at Paris 2024 – which was held as the fourth stage of the 2023 Hyundai Archery World Cup.

But he will be on the circuit in the lead-up to this summer’s big dance.

“I was still far from the other athletes even then in terms of experience,” he said of his sink-or-swim debut.

“However, I will try to take part in World Archery competitions before Paris [2024] to get used to the competitive atmosphere, with the hope it can help my experience a little.”

Pangestu will not be the only Indonesian archer at the next Games.

Diananda Choirunisa made the mixed team quarterfinal in Tokyo alongside Riau Ega Agata Salsabilla. The 27-year-old’s mixed team bronze at the 2022 Asian Games – also paired with Salsabilla – booked a women’s quota for Paris.

And there’s still a chance for Indonesia to upgrade its current two Olympic spots, one in each gender, for full teams at the final world qualification tournament in June in Antalya, Türkiye.

But before that, Indonesia is expected to compete – with its full recurve squad – at the first stage of the 2024 Hyundai Archery World Cup during the last full week of April in Shanghai, China.