A compound bow such as this one has extra strings, cables and cams on the end of the limbs. All photos: Victor Besa / The National
A compound bow such as this one has extra strings, cables and cams on the end of the limbs. All photos: Victor Besa / The National
The limbs are the upper and lower parts of the bow that bend when the string is drawn back. The limbs store the energy when the bow is held at full draw
The limbs are the upper and lower parts of the bow that bend when the string is drawn back. The limbs store the energy when the bow is held at full draw
Archery appeals to children and adults alike and people can start at any age
Archery appeals to children and adults alike and people can start at any age
Recurve bow sights are adjustable, lightweight and resilient to the shocks of the shot. A range of sighting pins and apertures are available
Recurve bow sights are adjustable, lightweight and resilient to the shocks of the shot. A range of sighting pins and apertures are available
The anchor point is a spot on the archer's face against which the drawing hand is placed to stabilise he aim before releasing the arrow
The anchor point is a spot on the archer's face against which the drawing hand is placed to stabilise he aim before releasing the arrow
The nocking point on a bow is a piece of plastic or metal that keeps the arrow in place on the string
The nocking point on a bow is a piece of plastic or metal that keeps the arrow in place on the string
Former UAE national team head coach Rao Berenjian of D'Archers gives CJ Utanes her first fundamentals in archery
Former UAE national team head coach Rao Berenjian of D'Archers gives CJ Utanes her first fundamentals in archery
In Olympic archery, competitors use recurve bows that draw an average of 22kg for men and 15kg for women
In Olympic archery, competitors use recurve bows that draw an average of 22kg for men and 15kg for women
D'Archers club instructor Toby Jacob checks the alignment of an arrow. He has taught more than 500 archers over a period of eight years
D'Archers club instructor Toby Jacob checks the alignment of an arrow. He has taught more than 500 archers over a period of eight years
Niila Kauppi, 13, started archery in his garden when he was five, using a wooden stick bow made by his grandfather. Three years later he got his first real bow
Niila Kauppi, 13, started archery in his garden when he was five, using a wooden stick bow made by his grandfather. Three years later he got his first real bow
Vedhas Somasi, 10, first tried archery in March 2022 when he visited Sharjah Golf and Shooting Club. He has since competed in the under-12 age bracket
Vedhas Somasi, 10, first tried archery in March 2022 when he visited Sharjah Golf and Shooting Club. He has since competed in the under-12 age bracket
Hooking the string is placing your fingers around the bowstring, and three under is the practice of placing three fingers under the nock of the arrow
Hooking the string is placing your fingers around the bowstring, and three under is the practice of placing three fingers under the nock of the arrow
A bracer is a strap or sheath of leather, stone or plastic that covers the ventral surface of an archer's bow-holding arm
A bracer is a strap or sheath of leather, stone or plastic that covers the ventral surface of an archer's bow-holding arm
Novice archers start with targets three to five metres away and gradually move farther as they progress
Novice archers start with targets three to five metres away and gradually move farther as they progress
A finger tab is a small leather or synthetic patch to protect an archer's fingers from the bowstring
A finger tab is a small leather or synthetic patch to protect an archer's fingers from the bowstring
Fletching on an arrow shaft stabilises it during flight by causing it to spin as it leaves the bow
Fletching on an arrow shaft stabilises it during flight by causing it to spin as it leaves the bow

Weekend

Photo essay: Recurve archery in Sharjah hits the bull’s eye

The D'Archers club provides a comprehensive insight into the early fundamentals of the sport

Farah Andrews
Victor Besa

January 20, 2023

  • English
  • Arabic

As with many new hobbies, with archery comes a glossary of terms to learn and familiarise yourself with as you progress in the sport.

From the limbs of the bow and anchor points, to cables and cams, stabilisers, shafts and sights, archery feels like it has a language of its own for budding marksmen to learn.

Click through the gallery above to see a comprehensive insight into the early fundamentals of recurve archery

D'Archers, formerly known as the Dubai Archers, have ranges at the Sharjah Wonderers Golf Club, and offer a comprehensive introduction to recurve archery.

The club has been running for more than 20 years, offering one-on-one tuition and group sessions. One of the co-founders of D'Archers, coach Rao Berenjian, has been teaching the sport for more than 20 years and is now the head coach of the UAE national team.

It's never too late, or early, to pick up the sport, with distances adjusted according to skill. In Olympic archery, competitors use recurve bows that draw an average of 22kg for men and 15kg for women, but novice archers start with a lower weight, usually about 6kg and gradually work their way up depending on their muscle memory and upper body strength or draw weight.

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10 tips for entry-level job seekers
  • Have an up-to-date, professional LinkedIn profile. If you don’t have a LinkedIn account, set one up today. Avoid poor-quality profile pictures with distracting backgrounds. Include a professional summary and begin to grow your network.
  • Keep track of the job trends in your sector through the news. Apply for job alerts at your dream organisations and the types of jobs you want – LinkedIn uses AI to share similar relevant jobs based on your selections.
  • Double check that you’ve highlighted relevant skills on your resume and LinkedIn profile.
  • For most entry-level jobs, your resume will first be filtered by an applicant tracking system for keywords. Look closely at the description of the job you are applying for and mirror the language as much as possible (while being honest and accurate about your skills and experience).
  • Keep your CV professional and in a simple format – make sure you tailor your cover letter and application to the company and role.
  • Go online and look for details on job specifications for your target position. Make a list of skills required and set yourself some learning goals to tick off all the necessary skills one by one.
  • Don’t be afraid to reach outside your immediate friends and family to other acquaintances and let them know you are looking for new opportunities.
  • Make sure you’ve set your LinkedIn profile to signal that you are “open to opportunities”. Also be sure to use LinkedIn to search for people who are still actively hiring by searching for those that have the headline “I’m hiring” or “We’re hiring” in their profile.
  • Prepare for online interviews using mock interview tools. Even before landing interviews, it can be useful to start practising.
  • Be professional and patient. Always be professional with whoever you are interacting with throughout your search process, this will be remembered. You need to be patient, dedicated and not give up on your search. Candidates need to make sure they are following up appropriately for roles they have applied.

Arda Atalay, head of Mena private sector at LinkedIn Talent Solutions, Rudy Bier, managing partner of Kinetic Business Solutions and Ben Kinerman Daltrey, co-founder of KinFitz

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• Founded in 2014, Telr is a payment aggregator and gateway with an office in Silicon Oasis. It’s e-commerce entry plan costs Dh349 monthly (plus VAT). QR codes direct customers to an online payment page and merchants can generate payments through messaging apps.

• Business Bay’s Pallapay claims 40,000-plus active merchants who can invoice customers and receive payment by card. Fees range from 1.99 per cent plus Dh1 per transaction depending on payment method and location, such as online or via UAE mobile.

• Tap started in May 2013 in Kuwait, allowing Middle East businesses to bill, accept, receive and make payments online “easier, faster and smoother” via goSell and goCollect. It supports more than 10,000 merchants. Monthly fees range from US$65-100, plus card charges of 2.75-3.75 per cent and Dh1.2 per sale.

• 2checkout’s “all-in-one payment gateway and merchant account” accepts payments in 200-plus markets for 2.4-3.9 per cent, plus a Dh1.2-Dh1.8 currency conversion charge. The US provider processes online shop and mobile transactions and has 17,000-plus active digital commerce users.

• PayPal is probably the best-known online goods payment method - usually used for eBay purchases -  but can be used to receive funds, providing everyone’s signed up. Costs from 2.9 per cent plus Dh1.2 per transaction.

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Players out: Mohammed Naveed, Shaiman Anwar, Qadeer Ahmed

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Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Power: 510hp at 9,000rpm
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
On sale: Available to order now
Price: From Dh801,800
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Updated: January 20, 2023, 6:01 PM`
Sharjah