This is the first time Australia has entered a team of archers in the Pacific Games with the event also providing the opportunity for direct qualification for two archers to the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

The following athletes have been selected – Laura Paeglis, Sarah Haywood, Ryan Tyack, and Peter Boukouvalas.

Their selections were based on their performances at the recent 2023 World Archery Championships in Berlin (July 31 – 6 August) and also domestic and international performances in 2023. Alice Ingley is team coach and Mark Wilson Manager.

Australian Team Chef de Mission Ken Wallace congratulated the two female and two male archers on their selection.

“It’s always an honour to represent your country and each has earned the right to wear Australia’s colours at the Pacific Games. This is an important event for this group and I am looking forward to working with them to achieve their high-performance objectives in Solomon Islands.

“They will get to compete in a unique environment with our Pacific neighbours and importantly, create the opportunity to win two quota places (one female, one male) to the Paris 2024 Games in the Recurve mixed team event.

All four athletes will compete in the individual Recurve competitions before the mixed team is chosen.

Rio 2016 Teams bronze medallist and Tokyo 2020 Olympian Ryan Tyack says he would really like to see Australia secure its first Archery Quota spots for both males and females ahead of a big run in 2024.

“The 2023 Pacific Games are coming up fast and I'm looking forward to it for a few reasons. This year I didn't start in the best form, however I have been consistently improving the whole year, beating the Current Olympic Champion in the 4th world cup earlier this month.

“I am excited to see this trend continue. The Australian mixed team has developed a lot over the past year or two and it will be a great opportunity to test ourselves in an important setting to see how our progress is tracking,” he concluded.

Laura Paeglis competed at the Buenos Aires 2018 Youth Olympic Games. She says this competition represent a number of firsts for her.

“It’s my first selection to represent Australia at a Pacific Games. My first chance to compete for an Olympic quota spot for Australia at senior level. And my first time travelling to the Pacific Islands. I can’t wait!

“Our first priority as a team is of course to secure a male and a female quota spot for Australia at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. We have worked hard this year at World and Asia Cup events around the world as well as the World Championships in Berlin to gain tournament and match experience that will be invaluable at the Pacific Games.

“I shot my best international score at the World Cup event in Paris and I’m fully focused on improving on that again in Solomon Islands. We have a fabulous team of 4 of Australia’s best archers making the trip. And we will do our best to do Australia proud,” she concluded.

Archery is now a core sport at the Pacific Games having been first contested in 1971.

The Solomon Islands 2023 Pacific Games runs from 19 November – 2 December. The Australian Team of approximately 80 athletes will compete in Archery, Athletics, Boxing, Beach Volleyball, Judo, Sailing, Taekwondo and Weightlifting.

Australia is sending a Team of approximately 80 athletes of which 57 have now been selected.