The 2016 Philippine Archery Cup Visayas Leg was set from September 23 to 25 at the Negros Oriental ball field in Dumaguete City.

Over 160 archers from different parts of the country will compete to qualify for the national finals in January next year.

“It is the first in Philippine archery history that we will conduct this kind of tournament so that the archery community will be involved in more national certified events,” World Archery Philippines Secretary General Rosendo Sombrio told The Manila Times on Thursday.

Sombrio said in order to compete in the national finals; an archer should win in two out of the three legs that they will conduct.

The first leg was held in Mindanao in July while the final leg will be held in Baguio City in October.

“We are trying to make it big compared to previous editions,” added Sombrio.

The 2011 Southeast Asian Games Team Compound gold medalist, Sombrio said they would feature several categories including junior, senior, cadet, and master.

The Provincial Government of Negros Oriental in cooperation with the Provincial Sports Development Office as well as The City Government of Dumaguete City Tourism Office supports the tournament.

According to Sombrio, the national archery association also aims to discover potential national players for the coming 2017 and 2019 SEA Games, 2018 Asian Games, and the 2020 Olympics.

The former national coach said that the aim is develop archers in the grassroots level.