Taiwanese archery prodigy Chen Pin-an (陳品安), just 15 years old and still in his first year of high school, demonstrated remarkable skill and composure under pressure to win the bronze medal in the men’s recurve event at the second leg of the 2025 Archery Asia Cup held in Singapore on Friday. Chen’s performance marked a significant achievement for the teenager, adding to Taiwan’s growing reputation as a powerhouse in competitive archery and setting the stage for a promising future in the sport.
A Journey Defined by Growth and Perseverance
While Chen’s bronze medal triumph was celebrated across Taiwan, the path to the podium was anything but easy. The teenager had a modest qualifying round, scoring 648 points and ranking 22nd out of 54 archers — making him the lowest-ranked among the four Taiwanese competitors. By contrast, his bronze medal opponent, Japan’s Yui Urata, was eighth in the standings with 662 points.
Despite this underdog status, Chen displayed tremendous resilience as the knockout rounds progressed. According to Kuo Chen-wei (郭振維), the head coach of the Taiwanese team, Chen showed signs of nerves early on, “probably because it was his first time in a medal match,” yet was able to make crucial tactical adjustments midway through the contest.
Precision Under Pressure
The medal match itself was an intense contest of skill and focus. After splitting the first two sets (2-2), Chen held his nerve to outscore Urata 29-26 in the third set and 28-27 in the fourth set to secure a decisive 6-2 victory. This commanding finish underscored Chen’s composure, proving that with each shot fired, his confidence grew.
Reflecting on Chen’s performance, coach Kuo emphasized that the teenager’s future looks extremely bright. “He adapted well after the second set, which is a very good sign,” Kuo noted. “With continued experience and training, his skill set will only deepen. This is just the beginning for him.”
Taiwan’s Rising Talent Pipeline
Chen’s success follows a strong showing earlier in the week, when the Taiwanese men’s recurve team earned a third-place finish in the team event. This pattern of strong team and individual performances signals the strength of Taiwan’s youth training programs and its commitment to cultivating world-class archery talent.
The Taiwan Archery Association has been investing in youth development programs, helping teenagers like Chen hone their technique and gain international competitive experience early in their sporting careers. The Archery Asia Cup series, which features three legs across different countries annually, provides invaluable opportunities for athletes to hone their competitive edge before they step onto even bigger stages like the Asian Games or the Olympics.
Looking Ahead
With the 2025 Archery Asia Cup still in progress, and future international tournaments on the horizon, all eyes will be on Chen to see how this talented teenager grows. If this performance is any indication, Chen is set to become one of the most exciting names in Asian archery over the next few years.
FAQs
Who is Chen Pin-an?
Chen Pin-an is a 15-year-old Taiwanese archer who recently won a bronze medal in the men’s recurve event at the 2025 Archery Asia Cup in Singapore.
What was Chen Pin-an’s ranking after the qualification round?
He ranked 22nd out of 54 competitors in the qualification round before winning the bronze medal.
Who did Chen Pin-an defeat to win the bronze medal?
Chen defeated Japan’s Yui Urata 6-2 in the bronze medal match.
How did Taiwan’s archery team perform overall at this tournament?
The Taiwanese men’s recurve team also won a third-place medal earlier in the tournament, demonstrating strong overall performance.
What did Chen’s coach say about his performance?
Head coach Kuo Chen-wei praised Chen’s composure and ability to make adjustments during the medal match, calling him a promising talent with significant room for growth.
