Sports in Bhutan
Traditional archery has been historically prominent in Bhutanese religion, ritual, and recreation, and enjoys modern popularity and practice in tsechus (festivals) and matches.
It differs from modern international archery in rules and metrics; players shoot at comparatively small targets at great distances.
Khuru is an indigenous dart game, and like traditional archery, requires players to strike relatively small targets at long distances.
[5] Traditional Bhutanese archery differs from Olympic standards in technical details such as the placement of the targets and atmosphere.
[4] Traditional Bhutanese archery is a social event and competitions are organised between villages, towns, and amateur teams.
Compound bows,[4] corporate sponsorships,[9] copious cash and material winnings,[10][11][12] injuries, and occasional fatalities[13] have become established features of archery.
The popularity of archery has also raised questions of Bhutan's susceptibility to doping, including by alcohol, in the sport.
[13][14] Since 2010, Bhutan has held the Lyonchen Jigmi Y Thinley Archery Tournament, encouraging the use of traditional bows and the development of gewog teams.
[15] Khuru (darts) is a popular outdoor team sport often played during festivals and archery tournaments.
It is played with a pair of spherical flat stones that are hurled at two targets (pegs) fixed in the ground about 20 metres (66 ft) apart.
Further, Bhutanese basketball, football and futsal teams compete at national, international, and Olympic levels.
[18] For each Summer Olympic Games since 1984, Bhutan has fielded male and female archers to compete in the kingdom's national sport.
In 2002, Bhutan's national football team played Montserrat, in what was billed as The Other Final; the match took place on the same day Brazil and Germany in the World Cup Final, but at the time Bhutan and Montserrat were the world's 2 lowest ranked teams.
Its national team has played many qualification games for the FIBA Asia Championship but still waits for its breakthrough.
[22] Changlimithang Stadium in Thimphu is the main venue for major sporting events in Bhutan, including archery and football.
With a capacity of 25,000, the stadium has also hosted theatrical performances and celebrations as part of national holidays and major events such as the royal wedding in 2011.
