July 4: Archery enthusiasts participating in the ongoing coronation archery tournament at Changbangdu in Thimphu are complaining about the need to improve facilities for the national game.

Changbangdu has been identified as a temporary archery range by the Bhutan Archery Federation as the previous range in Changlimithang is undergoing reconstruction works.

While the Coronation archery tournament is gaining momentum playing its semi finals, the tournament is not able to attract as many spectators as it used to. According to the players, this is because the range becomes muddy and slippery in the monsoon rain making it inconvenient for the spectators to come and witness the game.

Many of the archers said that the rains also make it difficult for them to enjoy the game. Because a river runs by the range, most archers lose their arrows in the river. They said it is also risky for the people as they cannot hear the warnings as a bulldozer has to keep on clearing the debris in the range coupled with the noise of the river flow.

The Bhutan Archery federation said they have no option but to cope in that environment since the reconstruction works in the previous range is underway.

Jurmi Wangdi from the federation said they will however try and organize the finals of the tournament at the Changlimithang Archery Range.

Next in the calendar of archery is the prestigious Yangphel Archery tournament which is scheduled to begin on the July 19.

Bhutan Archery Federation organizes around five tournaments in a year.