Thornleigh archer Belinda Maxworthy helps Australia to silver medal at Asia Cup

No Australian women’s recurve archery team has ever made it to the gold medal match of an Asia Cup. Until now.

Thornleigh archer Belinda Maxworthy (right) with Australian teammates Tayla King and Alice Ingley. Australia claimed a silver medal in women's team recurve at the second leg of the 2019 Asia Cup. Picture: Tetsu Lee

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Thornleigh archer Belinda Maxworthy has helped Australia to it’s best ever Asia Cup result, toppling second-ranked Japan on the way to a women’s recurve team silver medal in the second leg of the competition last week.

After finishing the qualification round ranked sixth, Maxworthy and her teammates Tayla King and Alice Ingley comfortably beat home nation Chinese Taipei six sets to two, to book a spot against Japan in the second round of the finals.

Australia then had another strong showing to defeat Japan in a sudden death shoot off and make it through to the gold medal match against Malaysia.

Although Malaysia were too strong for the Aussies, Maxworthy said just making it to the podium was a phenomenal achievement.

Maxworthy won the 2019 Australian Archery Open.

“It took a while for it to sink in that we were in the gold medal match,” she said.

“We only won by two points and after the last arrow was shot in our match everyone was trying to do the maths in their heads to figure out who won.

“Coming home with silver is really special. We were chasing gold but on the day Malaysia shot better and deserved to win.

“I will forever remember that moment and am looking forward to the next.”

Maxworthy dedicated the result to her grandfather, who died just before the tournament.

“My Poppa passed away just before I flew out to Taipei, so I was coming to terms with a huge personal loss,” she said.

“I wanted to give the tournament my best shot for my late Grandad. I’m just glad I would’ve made my Poppa proud.”

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