Three current Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) athletes have been named in the Australian archery team for the 2010 Commonwealth Games taking place in Delhi from 3–14 October.

Taylor Worth and Mathew Masonwells (men’s recurve) and Alexandra Feney (women’s recurve) and have been selected in the 12-strong Australian team. The full squad also includes:
 
Men’s compound

• Robert Timms (ACT)
• Patrick Coghlan (SA)
• Clint Freeman (TAS)

Women’s compound

• Fiona Hyde (NSW)
• Cassie McCall (ACT)
• Rebecca Darby (QLD)

Men’s recurve

• Matthew Gray (NSW, ex-AIS)
• Taylor Worth (WA, AIS)
• Mathew Masonwells (ACT –AIS)

Women’s recurve

• Deonne Bridger (WA, ex-AIS) 
• Dawn Nelson (VIC)
• Alexandra Feney (QLD, AIS)

The Australian athletes will be among strong contenders for eight gold medals on offer in the men’s and women’s individual and team recurve and individual and team compound events.

They have been training hard under the guidance of AIS and national head coach Simon Fairweather, who won gold in the men’s individual archery event at the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games.

Fairweather said the Australian archers have been performing strongly in camps, trials and overseas competition in preparation for the Delhi Games.

‘The members of this year’s squad have shot more than 100 matches in preparation for the Games,’ Fairweather said.

‘This is far more match practice than any previous Australian team has ever done prior to an event and I feel that it will stand our archers in good stead once we get to Delhi.

‘We have just competed in a World Cup in Ogden, Utah where our compound ladies picked up the bronze medal for the teams event, and the compound men just dipped out for the
bronze.

‘This year we are most strong in the compound division, particularly the men. The team includes Clint Freeman who was the 2003 world target champion, Pat Coghlan, a World Cup
finalist in 2009, and Robert Timms who has produced fantastic results and consistency throughout the selection process.

‘I’m also looking forward to seeing what our recurve men can produce. We have a mix of experience and new talent. Taylor Worth has been improving steadily over the last year and
recently won the USA Championships.’

ACGA Chief Executive Officer Perry Crosswhite said it was great to see archery back on the competition program.

‘We are looking to win our first Commonwealth Games archery gold medal in Delhi and have expectations this may come in the compound disciplines,’ Crosswhite said.

‘We expect to face strong competition in the compound division from Canada, England,South Africa and New Zealand.’