Of archery and the best player(s) in Bhutan.

Mr. Karma Tashi, the player of the year 2009-2010

Just like our national dress, our national game has also indeed evolved a great deal. So called the national game of Bhutan was once played using a humble materials like Bamboo, a birds feather and locally available bow strings. Today those things are fast starting to become yet another myth. In years to come, a thing bamboo bow and bamboo arrow will just become a thing past gone forever.

Having said that, I have my own story to tell as an archer, The last game I played was in the fall of 1995. Believe me. I was a sharp shooter then,(like Karma Tashi). I have even recorded hitting dobjis (I am serious). But sadly that zeal did not last long.  During our three day game, one of my friend, with whom I shared my bow, broke it off on the very first day by over pulling. It took my father, a week to give it a final touch and it was just a matter of second before it was damaged beyond repair! I lacked words to shun him for his outrageous action.

 It was by far, one of the most painful moments in my life. In following days, I could neither hit the target nor shoot my arrows properly.Those were the 2 most embarrassing days in my life because I was not only considered jazee, (person who failed to hit even once) but also lost interest in the game worthy of being called a gentlemen' game. I promised to myself that I will never ever play the game again in my life.

True to my words and promise, Today I am neither an archery protagonist nor an archery antagonist. I prefer watching someone play than playing myself. I have many other reasons to restrict myself from the game too. The obvious one is the cost factor that is followed by a huge post acquisition cost. The second reason may sound naive but my wife doesn't fancy man playing archery. (ask her the reasons)

Of course, things have changed. People today have the option and luxury of going for an unbreakable bows like shoot through, defender, reflex, ultra elite, contender elite, carbon matrix, mathew and Bow-tech along with high quality aluminum arrows like super slim, black arrow and camo arrow. You name it and the market has it for you.

Yesterday morning, I caught up with my friend, (Karma Tashi in the picture) who is currently the best and most sought after archer in our country. When I asked him about his feelings for the game, he had no words to describe and went blank. After carefully examining my words he smiled  at me and said its not only fun but can actually be used as a important social tool too. He said the game has given him everything, including society, friendship and love. "What more can i expect form it?" he said.

With this he also shared his concern to me. He said that, there are so many people buying those expensive bows and arrows. "If not properly handled and regulated, those are as dangerous as fire arms. It can be used in many ways" he said.  Karma also told me that, with ever increasing number of poachers and wild life poaching in our country, this is his great concern, because in the west people use those for hunting down animals. 

My vague recollection of how I fell for football.

The spring is in the air and so are lads in the ground. The grasses are sprouting and are blooming with flowers. Birds are singing their hearts out with the break of dawn and so are ants on the ground scurrying and bees buzzing around. It’s once again a season for any living organisms to rejuvenate and celebrate the homecoming of warm breeze and sprinkling rain yet another time.

Personally speaking, of the four seasons we have in calendar, spring is undoubtedly the most pleasant season of all. Name any activity and the season is favorable for it, including the soccer game, that is played mostly when the weather is warm and less windy.

In line with the statement above, I did make my appearance in the soccer ground after a period of eight dry and dusty months (on 15^th May 2011). It was my pleasure being there with my limbs fit and healthy, just as my body, healthy and stable.

Mind you I am not a even a mediocre soccer player. But I have a love for this game which is even bigger than the love Messi, Rooney, Fabragas, Ronaldo and Beckham have for it. I am the biggest of all the bigger fans when it comes to soccer!

There were times in my distant past, where, when I ran away or disappeared altogether in the games periods. The reasons were simple. I couldn’t afford a sports shoes and other sports wears like track suits. During my high school days, those were not a mere necessity but were an item of luxury and style.

Having spent my entire 1999 year watching it either on TV or in my neighborhood, I learned the most important rules of the games like off-side, corner, penalty kick, dead ball, drop ball, hand ball, D-box, red card, yellow card,  free kick and the difference between the league round and the knockout round.

It was until I reached my 12^th grade that I got the opportunity to play the game I long admired and loved. I was first considered into my class team as a substitute. Playing game on the basis of substitute was the most boring thing and I didn’t like the idea at all. So I decided to withdraw from the team for good. Then, few of my friends who actually formed the team gave me the most important role in the game; -the goal keeper. 

I would often practice all day long to catch those bouncing balls, rolling balls, crossing balls, looping balls and most of all, those shooting balls only to fail miserably when it was show time. How true, if you weren’t with horse when young, you will never know to saddle it when you are old. I was more of a liability for my team but my friends would never drop me for that, so I continued with my flop show all through.

Today the game has become a sort of priority for me and I play whenever I am being included in the team.  I play it more so in the interest of physical exercise. Of late, I have come to realize that playing game for the good of health is one thing and winning, quite another.

Lastly, over a period of time, I have become a multi talented soccer player (please don't laugh). I play both defensive and offensive in any position. I also play as right and left wing. Playing in the position of strike force is what I like but most of the team I play with say I am little too immature to play in the position.