Archery competitor Adrián Orjales has launched Saturno, a new inclusive archery club based in San Sadurniño, Spain, designed to offer a relaxed environment where participants can set their own targets without rigid demands.
The Origins of Saturno Archery Club
What started as a personal quest for training space has evolved into a formalized club structure. Adrián Orjales never initially intended to establish an organization, but the project emerged from practical necessity after he and another visually impaired archer sought an independent venue to train.
«No our idea was not to create a club, but it is a response to how the environment and nearby clubs show their attitude towards the sport,» Orjales explains regarding the catalysts behind the project. The core philosophy centers on flexibility. Organizers want to cultivate a much more relaxed atmosphere where everyone can contribute without excessive demands and establish individual goals.
Municipal Support and Facility Challenges
San Sadurniño serves as the operational base for the new organization. Orjales acknowledges the receptive stance of local municipal authorities who offered access to an available sports field during initial months of discussion.
Finding a permanent indoor venue remains the primary logistical hurdle. Because the municipality features a single multi-use sports pavilion with full scheduling capacity, organizers are evaluating alternative locations. Discussions include adapting a covered school patio, though that option requires structural evaluation due to its semi-open layout with one exposed wall.
Pending finalization of the club’s permanent home, Orjales has trained at Santa Mariña alongside fellow visually impaired archer Antonio and coach Eduardo, utilizing temporary municipal arrangements.
Meeting the Specific Demands of Visually Impaired Archery
Orjales began his own athletic journey in 2017 in Valdoviño after school presentations by visiting instructors sparked his interest. Now competing within the visually impaired division, he highlights the unique mechanical and technical hurdles competitors face.
Athletes in this category construct custom tripods and sighting aids independently. This self-reliance creates competitive disparities within identical classes, as competitors with more professionally engineered equipment enjoy distinct advantages. Maintaining physical contact with a fixed reference point throughout the shot sequence adds another layer of complexity, making minor postural shifts difficult to conceal.
Club Naming and Expansion Plans
The name Saturno draws inspiration from both local context and cosmic imagery. With San Sadurniño already home to Aldebarán de volei, founders wanted an alternate nomenclature signaling exploration and novelty.
While final logistical details are resolved, the immediate priority remains securing a suitable indoor facility to allow participants of all backgrounds to pick up a bow and establish their own path in the sport.
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