Professional Expertise Ensures the Success of the 2026 MilkLife Archery Challenge Junior National Championship

KUDUS – Hundreds of athletes stood at the shooting line as the MilkLife Archery Challenge Junior National Championship 2026 took place at the Supersoccer Arena in Kudus from July 18–29, 2026. One by one, young archers took their positions, raised their bows, drew their strings, and released arrows toward their targets. Amid the concentration of hundreds of athletes, the competition proceeded calmly. A total of 906 athletes from 29 provinces arrived to compete for national-level success. Behind the match, dozens of officials worked to ensure every session followed regulations, maintained safety, and tracked scores accurately.

Spectator attention is generally focused on the athletes releasing arrows toward the targets. However, the smooth progression of the competition is not determined solely by the athletes' abilities.

Behind every competition session, dozens of officials worked to ensure the entire series of events remained orderly, safe, and compliant with regulations. The team included the Head of the Referee Commission, referees, results processing staff, field crew, and the Director of Shooting (DOS), who oversees the shooting sessions and ensures arena safety. Each performs distinct but complementary tasks to support the successful completion of the 2026 Junior National Archery Championship.

Head of Referee Commission Enforces Match Rules

Before the first arrow is released, the work of the competition officials is already underway. Initial briefings are held to ensure all personnel understand task distribution, match schedules, and coordination mechanisms throughout the championship. One critical role is the Chief of Judge (COJ), or Head of the Referee Commission, who is responsible for coordinating all referees for the duration of the event.

Fauzul Muflih Darmawan fills this role. In addition to assigning referee duties, he ensures every match is officiated in accordance with established regulations.

“The primary duty of the jury board, in my capacity as the COJ or Head of the Referee Commission, is to assign referees to officiate this Junior National Championship. Everything related to technical competition aspects is under the responsibility of the COJ or Head of the Referee Commission,” he said at the competition venue.

According to Fauzul, all matches strictly follow World Archery Rules, the official regulations for international archery competitions. Before the competition begins, all officiating staff participate in a technical meeting to ensure a uniform understanding of the rules that will apply throughout the championship.

In the event of a field dispute, resolution follows a tiered process. The head of the Referee Commission is the first authority to reach a decision. If the issue remains unresolved at that stage, it is referred to the Jury of Appeal, a panel tasked with reviewing and ruling on objections or disputes during competition.

“Should a dispute or issue arise, the head of the Referee Commission will first attempt to provide a resolution. If the matter is not settled at that level, the Jury of Appeal will intervene to address the concerns,” he stated.

According to Fauzul, this mechanism ensures that all issues are resolved through established procedures, keeping competition proceedings compliant with rules and providing certainty for all participants.

Referees Enforce Rules for Junior Athletes

During competitions, referees serve as the technical officials closest to the athletes. From the shooting line, they ensure participants adhere to the same rules, receive equitable treatment, and oversee the entire scoring process until the conclusion of the match. 

PERPANI (Indonesian Archery Association) National Referee Eka Bayu Budi Ariesta stated that the primary duty of the referee is to ensure the entire competition is conducted in accordance with regulations set by World Archery.

“Our role as referees is to ensure the activity follows the mutually agreed-upon rules, which are actually established internationally by World Archery, and we simply apply them. Furthermore, we ensure that every athlete has equal rights and that the recorded scores correspond to the actual shots on the target,” he said.

Officiating junior-level matches, Eka noted, requires a different approach than that used for senior categories. Referees must be firm in enforcing rules while also communicating effectively with athletes and officials to ensure decisions are clearly understood.

“The most challenging aspect of this national championship is that, because the athletes are juniors, we must be very careful. While we have to enforce the rules, we also have to protect the athletes to prevent trauma. It is about how we communicate with officials so that the athletes remain safe and feel supported,” he added.

This approach is intended to help athletes understand each referee's decision as part of their learning process during competition. Consequently, rule enforcement is maintained without compromising the athletes' confidence or well-being.

Data Processing Team Ensures Competition Results Accuracy

Following each shooting session, the workload shifts to the data processing team. They are responsible for collecting, verifying, processing, and publishing the official results that serve as the reference for all participants. 

This task is led by Result Manager Wahyu Aryo Baskoro, who oversees the Scoring & Timing team, which is responsible for managing match scores and timing records.

"I oversee the data processing and participant registration team. Data processing involves coordinating with the scorers who record the athletes' performances. I then generate the final results for the winners," he said.

The recording process begins with the score sheet, which is submitted after athletes finish their shooting sessions. The data is then entered into a digital system using IANSEO, the official software used in archery competitions to manage match schedules, scorekeeping, and final results.

According to Wahyu, the primary challenge arises in the U-10 and U-13 age categories, as some athletes record individual shot values without calculating the total score.

"The difficulty with the MilkLife Archery Challenge Junior Championship is that in the U-10 and U-13 age groups, the athletes often record only the raw scores without summing them up, which complicates verification," he said.

Consequently, all data is re-examined before publication to ensure match results are consistent with the records from the field.

Field Crew Prepares Arena and Match Equipment

The smooth operation of the event depends on the arena’s readiness. This responsibility falls to the field crew, who manage the layout of the venue and competition equipment.

As Field Crew Manager, Juwadi leads the team responsible for preparing and maintaining competition facilities from the start of each session until the event concludes.

"Our primary task is to prepare the field and manage all necessary competition equipment," he said.

Juwadi’s background as a former archer helps him anticipate field requirements. He noted that the U-18 compound category poses specific challenges for his team, as the higher draw weight can cause arrows to pierce through the target butts. When this occurs, the field crew must react quickly to resolve the issue and ensure the competition continues without disrupting the athletes' concentration.

Director of Shooting Ensures Match Safety

During the competition, the Director of Shooting (DOS) oversees each shooting session while maintaining strict safety standards on the arena floor.

Farah Yumna emphasized that safety remains the top priority before any match signals are given.

"The most critical aspect is confirming range safety, as archery demands strict adherence to safety protocols. We ensure no one is downrange before starting, and we manage the flow of the competition, including operating the timer and overseeing the match process," she said.

In performing their duties, the DOS coordinates via walkie-talkie, utilizing radio communication to connect officials stationed across the arena. Before signaling for a match to begin, the DOS confirms that the area in front of the targets is clear and that the official timer is operational for the specific event. Precision is essential, as every decision directly affects the efficiency of the match and the safety of everyone present in the arena.

Away from the Firing Line, Yet Guiding the Competition

Archery championships often focus on the athletes who have trained for years to achieve success. However, events would not be possible without logistical support.

Behind every recorded score is a diligent data verification process. Behind every start signal is an official ensuring arena safety, and every referee ruling is backed by strictly applied regulations. Meanwhile, ground crews continuously manage equipment to keep transitions smooth between matches.

Much of this work occurs behind the scenes, far from the spotlight. While their names may not appear among the medal recipients, their contributions are vital to the success of the 2026 National Junior Archery Championship. Through their coordination, precision, and discipline, hundreds of athletes are able to compete in a safe, structured environment governed by uniform rules until the final arrow is released. (JMY/mainkekudus)