MANILA, Philippines -- Standing in the snow, facing strong winds, Enrique “Kit” Cojuangco Delgado Jr. was up against French champion Dominique Genet. In the elimination round of the World Cup in Korea, both had outscored other countries and reached the highest points of 111 each.

It was time to break the tie. During the match, all the Westerners cheered for Genet, while the Asians rooted for Cojuangco. They both hit their target the first time.

But on his second arrow, Cojuangco was unnerved by the clamor. “I got nervous with the chanting and cheering. I was a newbie and didn’t know how to handle pressure,” he recalls. “But it was unforgettable because it was a knockout match with one of the best shooters in the world.”

Cojuangco, 39, may talk passionately about archery but what takes up most of his time is his company, Scimitar Marketing Corp., a distribution company for such brands as San Miguel Beer, Ginebra, and Grand Matador.

“We work during the holidays for you guys to enjoy the good times,” he explains. Lately, he’s been spending late nights looking after his firstborn, Alfonso Emmanuel.

From Thursdays to Mondays, his company is busy supplying stores, bars and restaurants. It’s among the country’s top 10,000 corporations. Between meetings and paperwork, Cojuangco works out in the archery range.

Arm extension

Three years ago, Cojuangco was introduced to the sport when he chanced upon his friend, sportsman Carlos “Itos” Carag, training at Manila Polo Club.

When Cojuangco first held the bow—all of 60 pounds—he felt as if it were an extension of his arm. A quick study, he practiced daily, working out in the range in the home of his father, Enrique “Henry” Cojuangco Sr., vice-president of Ginebra San Miguel, and at Ultra.

“I spent countless hours learning to tune the bow, testing different setups and equipment,” he says.

After five months of training, he won the national championship and is now the defending champion. For a newcomer, he’s gotten a few international medals.

“Archery is cheaper than shooting and golf, but there’s a startup cost which consists of a dozen arrows, a bow and a release aid. We get good deals. The retail price for a bow is $1,450, but you could get a good one for $700. I bought a secondhand bow,” he says.

Cojuangco points out the green aspects of archery. “A bow is renewable energy. You pull a string and let go of the projectile. The arrows are reusable. It’s so Spartan that the launching hasn’t changed from its beginning. When you’re in a field, you are one with nature. I’ve shot in the snow. We were in Korea for the World Cup. There was freak weather and we wore shorts, yet we continued shooting.”

When he’s not preparing for a tournament, he practices two hours a day for four to five times a week. For cross-training, he does basic Hatha yoga.

“It helps in breathing and I feel it opening the chakras,” he says. “The hallmarks of archery are balance, rhythm and timing. Yoga helps attain those. I recommend that to any archer. Other sports require strength, power and speed. In archery, those don’t matter. The training involves skill: physical, mental and emotional aspects.”

On how archery has enhanced his life, Cojuangco has learned to be introspective.

“In archery, you must go inside yourself before you can be good in what you produce. It’s not like in basketball where your sheer athleticism can dominate the competitor. Here, you need peace. You can’t compete with a distressed spirit. You’ve got to shoot with a clear mind. Archery trains you to see life for what it is,” he says

“I’ve always viewed life as a journey,” he continues. “I savor each moment rather than hold on for too long. Let your mind program the bow to launch the arrow to its target. Archery is about learning to let go.”