Chaandvi Etches Name In History

Archer Chaandvi Prasad has etched her name in history as the first female archer to proudly represent Fiji at the Olympic Games. Her remarkable journey culminated with a triumphant third-place finish at the Oceania Qualification Tournament for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Tamaki Makaurau, Auckland, New Zealand, in March.

The 26-year-old Labasa native won Fiji a quota at the 2024 Olympic Games following her bronze medal win just six years after taking up the sport.

"From a young age, I was always encouraged to take part in all kinds of sporting activities by my family so I took up Netball for my school team during primary school days and even took up Karate," she said.

It was because of her interest in sporting activities that she stumbled upon the Colo-i-Suva Archery Club page on Facebook.

"This immediately sparked my interest so I attended one of their Come-N-Try programs with a friend," she said.

"It was fascinating as it was my first time learning about archery as I had always seen it in movies but never thought I'd get to try it myself.

"So I started going to the Come-N-Trys regularly, eventually became a member and was made President of the club from 2018-2022."

Chaandvi said “I never thought I would take up archery competitively but after winning a few medals during her first Fiji Games in 2018,that was when I got my own bow set and got invested in the sport, however COVID had slowed down everything but I started training again in 2022," she said.

Chaandvihas competed at 4 international competitions including the Pacific Games last year."

Armed with a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery from Fiji National University, Chaandvi is currently completing her internship at Labasa Divisional Hospital.

Chaandvi said the greatest challenge for her was being away from her coach.

"I don't get as much time as I would like with my coach since he is in Suva and I am in Labasa however he checks on me everyday, asking about my training and health and I am constantly sending him training videos and updates.”

National Coach George Fong said they were very happy with Chaandvi's accomplishment in the sport.

"To make the Olympics is huge for any athlete and we hope that Chaandvi will soak up the experience and at the same time learn from some of the world's best at the Olympics," he said.

Fiji has been represented in the sport at the 2004, 2012 and 2016 Olympics by Robert Elder.

Archery at the Paris 2024 Olympics will take place in the magnificent Esplanade de Invalides, in the center of the French capital.

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