The ongoing Bhutan National Archery Championship 2025 is being held with a renewed focus on safety, fair play and discipline. The organisers have introduced a comprehensive set of rules along with a card-based disciplinary system. The rules are being enforced strictly throughout the tournament. 84 teams from Bhutan and Sikkim, including a Bhutanese women’s team, are competing in the tournament.
To ensure safety throughout the tournament, only straight draws are allowed, while sky draws and side draws are strictly prohibited.
Both smoking and drinking are completely banned within the archery range.
Moreover, players must remain behind designated safety walls when not shooting, and spectators are strictly prohibited from entering the shooting area, including the space demarcated by boundary flags.
Tashi Tshering, the Chief Umpire for the tournament, said the rules were introduced as many archery ranges currently lack proper safety measures.
“Some archers draw to the side, while others draw upwards toward the sky, which poses serious risks. That’s why we also train them to draw the bow straight.”
For the first and second offences, players receive a green card along with a one-point deduction.
A yellow card and a two-point deduction are issued for the third and fourth offences. On the final offence, a red card is given, and the player is sent off and misses the next match.
However, major offences, such as physical altercations or deliberate damage to equipment, will result in immediate disqualification of the player and potential bans of up to five years, depending on the severity of the violation.
Umpires appointed for the tournament are officiating the matches.
A total of 13 green cards, two yellow cards, and six red cards have been issued so far, reflecting the tournament’s firm stance on discipline and adherence to the rules.
The league round will conclude tomorrow, with nine teams being eliminated from the tournament. The remaining 75 teams will be competing in knockout rounds.
Namgay Wangdi
Edited by Phub Gyem
