MIERLO – From 17 to 24 August 2025, the World Transplant Games took place in Dresden, Germany, with a total of 1,600 transplanted participants. One of them was Mierlonaar Marcel van de Wiel who participated in both the Badminton section and archery. It became an unforgettable experience for the resident of the Mierlose Kersendorp and also a very successful sports week as a participant for Team-NL.
On Thursday, Marcel was completely surprised by friends, family, acquaintances, members of HBV De Vriendschap and a club of Team-NL sports friends to congratulate him and put it in the spotlight after he had delivered an unprecedented achievement during the WTG 2025.
Upon arrival at the clubhouse annex forbow accommodation, the sportsman from Mierlo, put in the Orange, was surprised by around 60 people present. Among the alderman Peter Looijmans who personally came to congratulate Marcel with it he had presented it in Germany. The planned evening shooting with the Archbow for Marcel was quickly exchanged for a festive gathering where the Mierlonaar was of course the radiant centerpiece.
A bronze medal with a golden edge
A ‘long will he live’ sounded in the club building of the friendship located on the Eikendreef and the sportsman won as if he had won gold. That was actually too, because any participant in the WTG did not have to deliver a heavy physical struggle in the past, and put countless time and energy to get to realize if Marcel van de Wiel has realized. A top performance of unprecedented heights. Both during the Badminton competitions where he unfortunately fell just outside the medals, but certainly also during the archery races. Marcel shot no less than 249 points during individual matches. With the team it was totally super, and at the end of the game Marcel and his team members even got a bronze medal. A bronze medal with a golden edge!
From Leek to Bronze Medal
“An absolute top performance, especially since Marcel Pas only half an hour are concerned with archery,” said the friendship chairman Antoine Gruithuijzen who was one of the speakers and, like many club members and other acquaintances of Marcel and Janine, closely followed the sporting operations in the week of 17 to 24 August. Supported by various members of HBV De Vriendschap, Marcel, a layman in shooting with the bow, was taught the tricks of the archery in no time. An achievement in itself, especially if more than half a year later after the successful World Transplant Games you return home with a big smile and a shiny bronze medal. “Thanks to many,” said Antoine Gruithuizen said the chairman of the friendship, the association that Marcel Wegwijs has made in handboog sport and, where possible, supported. Even as far as Germany. There, too, they were in the stands to encourage their clubmate and his teammates.
Marcel’s wife Janine was also very rightly involved in the ceremony, his great support and support. Together they are already looking a bit ahead to the next challenge, the European Transplant Games that will take place in Arnhem next year. But first after enjoying, charging the battery, because of course the arch cannot always be tense!
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