Sports: At least 402 students from Bumthang, Mongar and Trashigang participated in the inter-school archery competition at Gyelpoizhing Central School that ended on December 21.

Cash prizes ranging from Nu 12,000 to Nu 2,000 were awarded to the participants.

The competition was part of the school and grassroots programme dedicated to the 60th Birth Anniversary of His Majesty The Fourth Druk Gyalpo that was held last year.

Organised by the Bhutan Archery Federation (BAF), the programme will be held in all the schools throughout the country by 2020.

Starting December 25, archery training for selected representatives from schools in Lhuentse and Trashiyangtse will be held in Trashiyangtse Higher Secondary School. From January 3 next year, selected representatives from schools in Pemagatshel and Samdrupjongkhar will be held. The selected representatives from schools will be training the students in their respective schools starting in the 2017 academic year, covering the entire eastern Bhutan.

Starting summer next year, archery training for selected representatives from schools from Bumthang, Zhemgang and Trongsa will commence. During the winter next year, training for selected representatives from schools from south-central and south-western parts of the country will be held.

BAF’s general secretary, Tsewang Rinchen, said the school archery programme has seen much progress. “We are expanding fast and even before 2020, it looks like we will reach all the schools in the country. We are overwhelmed by the massive turnout and we hope that it will continue to be the same.”

BAF conducted the tournament with support from the Bhutan Olympic Committee, SEISA Group, Department of Youth and Sports, Mongar dzongkhag administration and Gyelpoizhing Central School.

Staff reporter