World Archery have held a seminar in Egypt to help develop Para-archery ©World Archery

World Archery have held their first coaching seminar in Africa focusing on Para-archery, the body has announced.

The course in Cairo was hosted by the Egyptian Archery Federation and taught coaches how to help people with an impairment to shoot.

A total of 25 people took part from 11 different countries, with the seminar split into two parts.

The first week consisted of a level one training course, conducted by World Archery’s development agent in Africa Khaled Lamandé and Egyptian coach Ahmed Hassan.

The second week then focussed specifically on coaching para archery.

"The goal was to give coaches the confidence and knowledge to get anyone to shoot regardless of impairment, and be able to make simple adaptations to enable people to shoot," said one of the coaches taking part, Kieran Carr.

Some Para athletes, who had never shot an arrow before, were taught to do it for the first time ©World Archery
Some Para athletes, who had never shot an arrow before, were taught to do it for the first time ©World Archery

The Briton ran the Para portion of the course alongside compatriot Andy Rikunenko and Vincent Hybois from France.

It began with lessons covering the different types of impairments and ways to overcome obstacles to shooting, before the Paralympic classifications were explained.

They then helped teach some impaired athletes shoot their first ever arrows.

"Coaching para archery is similar to all archery except the athlete may not physically be able to do part or all they are asked, so patience is needed and a quick-thinking brain to work out ways to get them to shoot," Carr said.

"The course was a huge success.

"All the attendees left with the knowledge and confidence to start coaching Paralympic archery."