Kristina Dolgilevica sums up the momentous event in Ulsan, South Korea
Many still think that traditional archery is auxiliary to our sport, that it exists somewhere in a vacuum, or merely as a pleasurable pastime. The Traditional Archery World Cup (TAWC) in Ulsan, South Korea was witness to the fact that those days are well and truly behind us. In fact, the TAWC is the culmination of a long campaign which found its early expression in the first World Nomad Games in Kyrgyzstan in 2014. Mountains have been moved since the original WNG attempts to formalise and unite the traditional archers of the world – clearly no simple task. But the future is now. So let’s take a look at the inaugural World Cup, a general view, the key highlights, and the experiences of the archers who took part; and then consider why the founding of the new World Archery Federation (WTAF) may transform the traditional archery scene forever.
This was the first event of its kind, so any feedback in this article is not intended as criticism, but rather to air the reactions and experiences of the most important part of the global traditional archery community – the archers themselves, without whom there is no community – with a view to bringing about positive evolution and international dialogue. Let’s dive in.
What happened: General Remarks
The inaugural TAWC took place from October 31st to November 4th, in Ulsan, South Korea. A total of 600 players from 32 countries competed in team and individual events, shooting in four traditional archery categories across two venues.
Only traditional equipment was used, but special carbon arrows were allowed for shooting the Korean 145m target, (as is currently allowed in domestic tournaments). For many archers it was a dream come true to shoot the Korean distance, even though they may not have hit the target once.
Most international representatives wore their traditional costumes, but the Koreans opted for wearing the modern all-white tournament uniform, as currently prescribed by the Korea National Archery Association. Having witnessed the array of colourful, vibrant costumes which adorned the competitors of other nations, the Koreans are almost certain to wear the traditional hanbok next time, making everyone feel like they are stepping into a historical Korean drama, loved by so many.
Considering Korea was the first-time host for an event of this magnitude, the organisers did an impressive job, and by and large things worked out smoothly. Certainly, there were negative comments, but no event is ever perfect. We all have different and individual needs and ideas, and our expectations tend to be dictated by our past experiences. Everyone was greeted, transported around, fed and watered, and there were no major delays. To everyone’s amusement a coffee-making robot booth was installed – a fun futuristic touch – and no-one needed to forgo the essential hit of caffeine. But the biggest gift was from the ancient Korean gods, who provided spectacular weather conditions after the incessant rain of the previous two weeks. The archers shot under a clear brilliant blue sky, in the midst of a fresh and colourful autumnal landscape. However, they were also pranked by one of the more mischievous deities, who supplied plenty of tricky winds to confuse and confound even the most confident of archers.
Full marks though for the hospitality. The volunteers and assistants spoke very good English and seemed to be around 24/7. Whether or not they got any sleep, they deserve a standing ovation.
Schedule, venues, disciplines
Day 1 was official practice day and Opening Ceremony. The athletes familiarised themselves with the surroundings and the playing fields. Days 2 and 3 were qualification days, Day 4 semifinals, and Day 5 the finals matches and the Closing Ceremony. The Opening and Closing ceremonies did not disappoint and Korea showcased national talents in exhibitions of martial arts, traditional music, dance and songs. The absolute showstopper was the incredibly choreographed group dance with bows at the Opening Ceremony.
One of Korea’s well-known Olympic archery ranges, Munsu International Archery Field served as the main venue and stage to the Opening and Closing Ceremonies. In 2007 this venue hosted the World Archery World Cup Stage 1. The main venue featured three traditional archery disciplines: the 90m Hungarian Tarsca ground shield target, the 70m Turkish conical Puta target, and the 30m Kazakh Zhamby, a suspended round medallion-shaped moving target.
The secondary venue, the Ulsan Munsu Archery Range, hosted only Korean traditional archery (Kungdo). This original clubhouse is always set up to shoot the modern standardised distance of 145m only. Many queried why 145m? The 145m distance was one of the distances that were shot back in the times of the Gwageo civil service exam, modelled on the Chinese system. At various times, this included a variety of ground and horseback archery tests. Interestingly, compared to many western cultures who had swapped their bows for muskets by the 17th century, in Korea bows lost their military significance rather late. Archery was a primary martial event tested at the national military exam system throughout the Joseon Dynasty rule (1392 – 1910). The system was officially abolished in 1894, thus traditional archery in Korea assumed a status of a traditional cultural and sporting activity. This explains the close link of the Korean people with their bows.
General Remarks on Shooting
145m Kungdo was compulsory for all players, but other disciplines could be elected.
As the single representative of the UK, I opted to participate in my favourite discipline, the 145m, using my own Korean equipment. Those who are familiar with my archery journey will know that I have travelled to Korea every year since 2019 to practise Korean traditional archery. If I had the chance to retrieve my longbow at such a short notice, I would no doubt have taken part in all distances, but Korean traditional bows and technique are designed for long distance shooting. Korean bows are harder to manage and produce too fast an arrow, and the scoreboards are a testament to that. My advice is to use slower bows at shorter distances if you are looking for target accuracy.
What did others think? In summary, having observed and spoken to many different archers, the majority of whom were seasoned competitors with good endurance, they echoed similar sentiments and were generally happy to shoot a lot. At 90m and 70m archers shot 9 arrows within 180 seconds, whereas the 30m distance was shot for with 5 arrows, also within the same 180 seconds. But what about the “dreaded” 145m?
Shooting 145m: Adaptations and feedback
It was curious to see what kind of adaptations were made to save time and make the judging easier. Normally, according to modern Korean traditional archery etiquette in a typical domestic tournament, 7 archers stand on the line on one target, shooting 5 arrows, one arrow at a time, in order (not simultaneously), with no time restrictions. The main reason for that is because it is considered a contemplative practice, but also that it gives the body some time to recover after each shot, since Korean technique demands a lot of physical power and muscular contraction.
At the Ulsan World Cup timing was added, and targets were modified for efficiency. Archers shot 5 arrows per end within 150 seconds. 7 per target placement was observed, all shooting simultaneously at six targets; thus 42 archers would shoot 5 arrows in one end. Personally, I prefer the slower pace for KTA for the reasons mentioned above, but this format worked and the schedule was met. Hard board targets were swapped for soft foam so the arrows can stick, making judging easier; normally blunt tipped arrows bounce back upon contact with the hard board, and a light and sound are transmitted upon contact to signal a hit.
Could only Korean bows be used? No, but this was a concern voiced by many archers, who questioned whether their bow and their skills could carry their arrows as far as 145m. But the organisers pleasantly surprised each official foreign player with a generous gift of a traditional Korean bow, plus ten arrows, and necessary basic equipment for shooting at the compulsory 145m target. Understandably not all of them used the gifted bows, but these presents will be utilised in preparation for next year’s World Cup. This gesture is a great way to promote the Korean archery discipline, because with the right tools there can be no excuse not to practise.
East meets West: Results
The meeting of two worlds supported my decades-long observation of the traditional archery scene and shows where we are today globally. All the western disciplines were dominated and won by the westerners, and the eastern by the easterners – with one exception – a surprise win by an eagle-eyed Dagestani archer in the individual men’s category at 145m, breaking a clean sweep by the Koreans.
This duality highlights the need for and the importance of cultural exchange and dialogue. It demonstrates that today’s traditional archer must be a well-rounded player, and in a way, it takes us back to the military exam system of the past (minus the horse), where the archer had to prevail in different disciplines. This World Cup marks the point in history where we begin to talk.
The significance of international participation cannot be underestimated. It has a direct effect on the development of traditional archery overall. The results show without a shadow of a doubt that those who consistently participate in international events (Turkey, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, to name a few), enjoy the benefits of this invaluable experience and improve with time, consistently coming out on top. And as with any sport, successes attract investment. Subsequently, this further ignites the competitive spirit, promoting development. How any one country goes about approaching their domestic situation with traditional archery is very important, and here in Korea, several broken arrows later, many lessons have been learned by all archers for next year.
The overall medallist count per country placed thus: Kazakhstan, South Korea, Turkey. To view full results, visit: www.ulsanwtac.com. A total prize money pool comprised 105 million Won (approx. £55,000 GBP).
Image – UK-TAIA during the official signing at the general Assembly. Kristina Dolgilevica.
East meets West: Team Formation
Team formation deserves a separate mention. There was no limit to the number of team members per country in this inaugural event, which left some feeling at a disadvantage. The official statistics recorded 370 (61.67%) foreign and 230 (38.3%) domestic participants. On the one hand, having more players in the talent pool increases the chance of winning; on the other, a large team size can also reduce the chance, on the basis of the theory of diminishing returns. The men’s 145m event is a good example. Furthermore, the western discipline podiums in three categories featured no Korean archers, compared to the one Kungdo where all spots but one were occupied by Koreans. It is 3 to 1, and western team formations came in at much smaller numbers, with UK and Norway featuring just 1 member, and most others just 5 or 10 players per country.
Participating nations have already forwarded their feedback to the WTAF, calling for team caps. The goal is to refine the standards and to change the categories featured, which will allow for more inclusion and greater opportunity to showcase the wealth of archery cultures from around the globe. If we highlight the issues, we can address the solutions. It is just a start, a work in progress – but really it is a great start.
Founding of the World Traditional Archery Federation
This was perhaps the more significant and historic event that accompanied the inaugural World Cup. On November 1st, representatives of 32 countries gathered in the Ulsan City Hall for the official Founding General Assembly of the World Traditional Archery Federation (WTAF). Established under the Swiss Civil Law, the WTAF will have two headquarters, international in Lausanne, Switzerland, operational in Ulsan, South Korea. At last traditional archery has a home of its own. The WTAF will serve as one main single official regulatory body for the global traditional archery representatives, akin to and aligning with the structure, ethos and values of the Olympic Movement.
The Federation’s main objectives are to promote and expand the cultural and athletic values of traditional archery worldwide, to organise international competitions and educational programmes, to educate and engage the younger generations in the preservation of traditional cultures, to document and safeguard traditional archery as an element of intangible cultural heritage, and to foster international cooperation and enhance sports diplomacy through traditional archery. And the UK is part of it too.
UK-TAIA: Great news for the UK
Many of you will be aware that I have long been campaigning to rejuvenate traditional archery in the UK. For those of you who are not aware, the UK traditional archers have been absent from the international tournament scene for over a decade. I was the sole UK representative at the 2022 World Nomad Games in Iznik, Türkiye and at this inaugural 2025 World Cup in South Korea. However, I have wanted to address the issue for a long time. In the last five years I have been working on building international connections and ways of bringing the UK traditional archers, their rich history and culture, to the global community. The efforts of my campaign have paid off. I have founded the non-profit UK Traditional Archers’ International Association (UK-TAIA), with the purpose of being the official representative and spokesperson for the UK, a source of practical advice for all those who wish to be part of the global traditional archery community, to share with others not only international shooting lines, but the rich UK archery culture and history. During the general Assembly of WTAF, UK-TAIA (Kristina Dolgilevica) served as the official signatory, was officially recognised, appointed and approved by the Board as the sole representative to the UK, gaining the UK full membership status. UK-TAIA will be tasked with facilitating participation in global tournaments (the Traditional Archery World Cup, Conquest Cup, World Nomad Games etc.) and act as the spokesperson and representative alongside the rest of the WTAF member nations in any relevant cultural and sporting forums. It will be my honour and pleasure to continue to champion the inclusion of the UK in international projects, to seek out and provide the best networking and collaboration opportunities, and to assist and support projects aimed at preserving and promoting the centuries-old British archery traditions on the global stage, for all relevant archery groups and societies based in the UK. The UK archers deserve to take their rightful place in the international community.
To learn more and become a member of the UK-TAIA visit the official website: www.uk-taia.org
For updates follow Facebook page: UK Traditional Archers’ International Association
Contact for inquiries: k.dolgilevica@uk-taia.org