The 2^nd International Balkan Archery Tournament, organized in cooperation with Yunus Emre Institute (YEI) and the Archers Foundation, was held at the International University of Sarajevo (IUS).

Over 50 professional participants from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Serbia, Serbia, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Albania competed in the tournament, with Almina Baralija from Bosnia and Herzegovina winning the women's event and Irfan Mehmed from North Macedonia winning the men's event.

Baralija said: "My interest in archery started in 2018 and I started practicing this sport at Mostar Yunus Emre Institute. I have always been interested in historical sports, and I started this sport because I love history. I am happy to meet fellow participants from other countries."

Mehmed, the men's winner, expressed his happiness to be in Sarajevo and thanked the Archery Foundation and Yunus Emre Institute.

In his statement at the tournament, Archery Foundation Archery Research Institute Coordinator Hasan Şentürk reminded that the 1^st International Balkan Archery Tournament was held in North Macedonia last year and stressed that the winners of this tournament compete at the Conquest Cup held in Istanbul on May 27-29 every year.

ARCHERY TRAINING IS PROVIDED IN 37 COUNTRIES AS A PART OF THE KEMANKESH PROJECT

Şentürk noted that the winners of the Sarajevo Tournament can also compete in the Conquest Cup where “the best archers from around the world gather” and added:

"The Kemankesh project has been organized since 2018 with the cooperation of the Archers Foundation and Yunus Emre Institute. As a part this project, archery trainings are provided in the 37 countries where Yunus Emre Institute is located. Lovers of archery come to the Archers Foundation and receive training there. Then, when they return to their countries, they provide training to those who are interested in archery there and we organize competitions for these people.”

ELEMENTARY AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS ALSO LEARNED AND COMPETED

On the first day of the two-day tournament, elementary and high school students from different schools in Bosnia and Herzegovina had the chance to learn how to shoot arrows and participate in a competition.

About a thousand students participated in the tournament, which was attended by judges and instructors from the Archery Foundation.

The International Archery Tournament was first held in North Macedonia last year, dubbed the "Tozkoparan İskender" tournament and 120 participants from 7 Balkan countries participated in the event.