Archery competition with traditional costumes and equipment

[Marshal Mo Hare, SASS #45984]

Ni fiberglass or composite bows here.  Turks in Caftans, Britons like Robin Hood's merry men, Kazaks like Mongol warriors.

 

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/17/sports/archery-conquest-cup-istanbul.html?emc=edit_th_20170820&nl=todaysheadlines&nlid=30446431

 

ISTANBUL — Adnan Mehel walked onto the field wearing an Ottoman-style robe and boots modeled after those worn by a 16th-century sultan.  He trained his eye on his students as they stepped up to the starting line and aimed their bows. Mehel, who was instrumental in reviving traditional archery like this a decade ago, was watching over the fifth annual Conquest Cup, an archery competition that celebrates the anniversary of the conquest of Constantinople in 1453.

The event, which Mehel helps organize, was held over three days in late May at the Okcular Vakfi, which means “archery foundation.” One of the oldest sporting clubs in the country, it was originally a staging ground for Fatih Sultan Mehmet’s army of archers before they invaded Constantinople 564 years ago. The sultan was so impressed by his archers’ skill that he gave the land to them, and a tradition was born.

At the competition, a horn sounds and a group of archers dressed in traditional clothing hurry to the starting line. Each participant wears an outfit connected to their personal history. Some 427 competitors from 37 countries compete in the Conquest Cup, and the majority of the Turkish competitors are dressed in Ottoman-era outfits.

Rafael Tulegnov, a 30-year-old from Kazakhstan, wears clothing inspired by Genghis Khan that he designed himself. Competitors from Britain and Ireland came dressed as characters from Robin Hood.

[Subdeacon Joe]

 

VERY interesting.  I have reached my limit of free articles at the NY Times, so I had to google it for other sources.