Thinley Namgay 

Mongar gewog has emerged as the first team from Pool A to secure a spot in the quarterfinals of the ongoing 2024 Druk Wangyal National Archery Tournament at the Changlimithang Archery Range in Thimphu.   

The team triumphed over Gomdar gewog, clinching two consecutive sets. They secured the first set with a score of 25-9 on December 25, followed by  25-22 win in the second set yesterday.

As of yesterday, four gewogs have confirmed their places in the quarterfinals. 

From Pool B, Kurtoed, Tongmijansa, and Martshala gewogs have advanced to the quarterfinals. The pre-quarterfinal match between Lumang (B-team) and Dramitse (A-team) gewogs is scheduled to take place today and tomorrow.

In Pool A, Udzorong and Dramitse (B-team) will compete today and tomorrow. The match between Drepong and Yangnyer is set for December 29 and 30, while Bidung and Yalang gewogs will face off between December 31 and January 1.

Mongar’s captain, Jambay, 39, expressed his pride in his team’s performance, having defeated all three opponents thus far in two straight sets each.

He credited his team’s collaboration and co-ordination as their strongest assets in the tournament. “Every team has some good players, but team co-operation is vital. Regarding Gomdar, I would say my players were slightly better. However, they tried their best,” he said.

Jambay, who has been participating in the tournament since 2015, is optimistic about the tournament.

“As a player, I feel proud to play traditional archery, especially at Changlimithang, which holds significant cultural value,” Jambay said, adding that his team is ready for the quarterfinals.

This year’s tournament includes a unique feature—all archers represent their respective gewogs in a format designed to foster unity and promote local talent. The tournament has seen a record participation of 58 teams from 50 gewogs.

The traditional archery competition, which began on November 4, will conclude on January 12.

Organised by the Bhutan Indigenous Games and Sports Association (BIGSA), the Druk Wangyal National Archery Tournament is an annual event commemorating the 2003 victory over foreign militants and tribute to His Majesty The Fourth Druk Gyalpo.

Gomdar, last year’s champion, is represented by Captain Passang Dorji, who acknowledged that his team is not as strong as in the previous edition. “This year, the tournament format is different. In the past, teams had the luxury of recruiting players from different gewogs,” he said.

Despite the loss against Mongar , Passang Dorji expressed pride in his team’s progress to at least the third round and is determined to come back stronger next year.

Archers highlighted the cultural, heritage, and social importance of traditional archery in Bhutan and emphasised the need to promote it.

The tournament follows a knockout format, with each team comprising 13 players, including two substitutes. Each team paid an entry fee of Nu 15,000.

BIGSA officials stated that including various gewogs in the tournament demonstrates their commitment to expanding traditional archery tournaments beyond Thimphu.

Officials said the tournament has been running smoothly, with cooperation from both teams and spectators.

Hundreds of spectators, including tourists, gather at Changlimithang daily to watch the matches, adding to the tournament’s lively atmosphere.