As a heartfelt farewell to the sport they once dominated, some of Bhutan’s finest former archers returned to the archery field at Changlimithang today. Competing in the ongoing Bhutan National Archery Championship 2025, these seasoned players, now aged above 60, gathered not for glory, but to honour a lifelong bond with the country’s beloved national sport.
Leading the team of five veteran archers is 69-year-old Ugyen Penjor from Trongsa. The father of four not only captains the team but also takes the initiative to reunite the group for this farewell performance. For most of the players, it has been almost two decades since they last competed in such tournaments.
“We have been playing archery for many years, starting from the mid-80s to the early 2000s. After that, we went our separate ways. some retired, and some left home, so we couldn’t gather together. After hearing that this tournament was being organised, we sat together and said, ‘One more time, let’s go to Changlimithang.’ That is our theme for coming to Changlimithang. The other reason is that we wanted to bring Ata Karsang one more time to Changlimithang, and we have done that.”
The team members collectively covered the travel expenses for their teammate, 80-year-old Karsang, the oldest participant in this year’s championship.
Known fondly as Ata Karsang in the 1980s, he is from Kanglung in Trashigang. A seasoned player of his time, Karsang first competed in the national tournament in 1983 using traditional bow and arrow. He picked up compound archery the following year. After retiring from the sport in 2000, this championship marks his return to the field after nearly 25 years.
“We’re all quite old now. I am 80, and the youngest in our team is 60. My old friends said, ‘Let’s play one last game,’ so I came all the way from Kanglung. I hadn’t been playing archery there anymore, even though I used to in the past. They encouraged me to join them at Changlimithang one final time. I agreed and came, but I can’t play as well as I used to.”
Even at 80, his passion hasn’t aged. Karsang flew in from Yonphula just for this competition, fuelled by his desire to relive the excitement of the sport he fell in love with while herding cattle as a young boy.
Another key member of the team is 70-year-old Sangay from Wamrong in Trashigang. Though he stepped away from competitive archery in 2006, he continues to contribute to the sport by running an archery range at Debsi in Thimphu.
“In the past, there used to be a maximum of seven teams competing in tournaments. These days, the number has increased significantly, with around 30 to 40 teams taking part. This growth is a result of the country’s overall development. I currently run an archery range in Debsi, where I also train young archers.”
The veteran team faced tough competition today in their first round of the league, going up against younger opponents. While the veteran team ended with two points in last place, their spirits remain high as they prepare for the remaining league matches scheduled for Saturday and Monday.
For these legends of the past, it’s not about winning but about cherishing memories, rekindling friendships, and shooting one final arrow for the love of the game.
Karma Wangdi
Edited by Kipchu
