The 2024 Druk Wangyel National Archery tournament saw a record number of teams; 58 teams from 50 gewogs competed in the tournament. They came to Thimphu, to fight for the prestigious tournament at the Changlimithang battle ground.

After more than a month of intense competition, with the capital’s residents supporting the team from their geowg or dzongkhag, Udzorong won the tournament.

The tournament was to promote the national game, archery.  Archery is a symbol of Bhutan’s tradition and it is very much alive. Played with bamboo bows and arrows made from cane,  traditional is popular all across the country. Remote Udzorong winning the tournament is an example of how popular the game is.

For many, the tournament was about which team won. But behind every game there were many aspects of Bhutanese culture that are unknown to many, particularly the youth. If archery, the way we participate and how players prepare and compete are considered, it is more than mere game. What happens behind the game, such as appeasing the local deities, the role of the local astrologers, and the beliefs in a game says a lot about our unique culture.

However, despite their victory, players of Udzorong were unhappy as they received an old trophy during the award ceremony from the Bhutan Indigenous Games and Sports Association (BIGSA). BIGSA was supposed to present the original trophy on the award day. In contrast, the runner-up team, Martshala Gewog, received the original trophy.

If we are to promote or preserve the national game, it should be recognised.  The biggest promotion would be recognising it by the authorities and the government. Recognition comes with the prizes awarded at the biggest tournaments. Unfortunately, the recent biggest tournament did exactly the opposite.

After the tournament, the winners spent time running from pillar to post to justify their win. The cash prize was meagre, not even enough to cover three day’s expenditure to live in the capital, an insult when they were not even awarded the rightful trophy.

It might have been an oversight on the part of the organisers, but when tournaments are organised to promote and preserve a tradition, winners should be duly recognised. Archery tournaments played on imported equipment are rewarded with numerous attractive awards. We have prizes ranging from television sets to refrigerators to statues and cash to recognise players. When it comes to tournaments played on traditional equipment, the value for prices, and therefore, the recognition, drops.

Archers, both winners and losers of the recent Druk Wangyel National Traditional Archery tournament are doing their maths. Many feel that the organisers made profit from the tournament. The cash price for the winners was about Nu 15,000 a player. With each team paying an entry fee of more than Nu 1,000 per player, the organisers had Nu 870,000 in entry fee.

If tournaments are organised to make profit, like archers say in the name of promoting indigenous sports, many might not in the furure participate even for the love of the game.

Advertisement