Multi-Asian Championship and SEA Games Archery Gold Medalist Earl Benjamin Yap retires from the National Team

Originally published by Judith Caringal for DZSR Sports Radio News. The 32-year old Yap announced thru his FB account that he is retiring as a national archer after 12 years of service to Team Philippines. Yap explained that he has been contemplating on his retirement the past two years, only a request from teammates who aimed at keeping the SEA Games team title in Singapore, prevented him from deciding immediately. The compound specialist admitted that he had a great experience shooting at a high level, reaching 11th in the World rankings. Earl Yap won the individual gold medal in the 2007 Archery Championships in China, 3 individual and 2 team gold medals at the Asian Grand Prix, 2 team gold medals, 2 individual silver and bronze medals at the SEA Games plus countless medals at other International and local competitions. His recent medals were 2 bronzes in the men’s team and mixed team events in last year’s Singapore SEA Games. Yap, who devoted more time to the sport than to his personal life, shall not completely walk away from archery as he shall continue coaching in his own range. He is the personal coach of current National team members Andrea Robles and Joseph Vicencio. Likewise, he previously helped Jeff and Dean Adriano. Earl, however, told Sports Radio that he may come out of retirement…if and when compound archery is included in the Olympic Games.