Ya Ping Shih Assumes Archery Head Coach Role at NSWIS

The New South Wales Institute of Sport (NSWIS) is proud to announce highly respected Ya Ping Shih has been appointed as the Head Coach of the Institute’s Archery program.

Ms Shih, who was Australia’s Archery Coach at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games and the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games, starts her role at NSWIS with impeccable credentials.

Before assuming the role as Australia’s National Coaching Director from 2014-21, Ms Shih won a gold and silver medal for Chinese Taipei as a competitor at the 1999 World Archery Championships. Then, after focussing on coaching, she was charged with the job of overseeing the Chinese Taipei team’s campaigns at the 2004, 2008 and 2012 Olympic Games.

Under Ms Shih’s guidance Chinese Taipei’s Women’s team won the bronze medal at the 2004 Athens Olympic Games In 2016 she guided the Australian Men’s team (pictured above) to a prized bronze medal at the Rio Olympic Games.

Ms Shih said she was thrilled to join NSWIS’s renowned archery program.

“NSWIS has a number of extremely talented archers who have already proven themselves on the international stage,” she said. “I look forward to seeing them progress.”

“It’s appealing, as a coach, to know NSWIS athletes enjoy additional support through the Institute with a full-time strength and conditioning provider and performance service support in biomechanics, physiotherapy, nutrition, medical and Athlete Wellbeing & Engagement.

“This is important because such services help to create a tremendous environment for the athletes to perform to the best of their capabilities.”

NSWIS High Performance Manager for Archery, Andy Burns, described Ms Shih’s recruitment to NSWIS as a huge boost for the Institute’s archery program, for the state’s archers, and Australia’s chances of performing well at elite archery competitions.

He added Ms Shih would play an important role in the Institute’s joint program initiative with Archery Australia which encompasses Recurve and Para Archery.

“The primary focus of the program is preparation for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, however planning for the LA28 Olympic Games is already well underway,” said Mr Burns.

“Ya Ping has the credentials – and the will –  to help us fulfil our goals.

“We’re absolutely thrilled to have a coach of Ya Ping’s calibre join us. She has established a stellar reputation through her feats as a competitor, and then her efforts as an Olympic medal winning coach.”

As NSWIS’s Head Coach, Ms Shih will oversee the entire NSWIS Archery program, Recurve and Para, however, her day-to-day focus will centre around the Recurve scholarship athletes. Mr Burns said National Para Coach Ricci Cheah will continue with his outstanding work in delivering coaching for the NSWIS Para Archery scholarship holders.

“Our athletes will undoubtedly benefit from Ya Ping’s extensive experience, and I have no doubt she’ll embrace, and enhance, NSWIS’s purpose to ensure our athletes receive world class support.”

Daniel Lane, NSWIS