THE art of archery has always been admired by all and that too for centuries. The greatest of warriors mentioned in many classic books and even history have always been archers and that too in all kind of languages and many different countries.
Just take your pick - Hang Tuah of Melaka, Teucer from the Greek book Iliad, the incredible Arjuna and Karna from Mahabharata, Robin Hood the greatest English warrior, Genghis Khan of the Mongols and who can even forget Legolas from the Lord of The Rings books and movies. Then there was also Katniss Everdeen of the Hunger Games fame and she's one lady who is so dangerous with the bow and arrow.
The imagination of warrior archers has always won the hearts of the romantics and these warriors are also famous because they represent a combination of skill, precision, and versatility in combat.
Archers are seen as symbols of control, patience, and self-reliance, making them popular characters in literature and film; additionally, historical battles like the Battle of Agincourt showcased the devastating power of skilled archers on the battlefield, solidifying their place in popular culture.
As such and with Malaysia as the Chair of Asean this year, the highly anticipated Malaysia International Traditional Archery Festival 2025 (MITAF25) is set to take place from Oct 9 to 12 bringing together traditional archery enthusiasts, experts and athletes from around the world.
While the South-East Asian traditional archers are set to be the limelight but organisers are expecting many other traditional archers from all over Asia and the world to be taking part.
And these archers clad in their traditional costumes just like the heroes we have been reading in books and history annals, will be vying to be the best at the festival that will be held later this year.
As 2025, is also Visit Selangor year, the state has been selected as host and the prestigious event will be held at two main venues: Royale Chulan Damansara and Kwasa Damansara, Selangor, Malaysia, with an estimated participation of 2,000 archers from over 30 countries.
MITAF25 will feature a variety of exciting events, including: Malaysia International Traditional Archery Summit – An academic and professional gathering at Royale Chulan Damansara, where experts, scholars and practitioners will discuss the art, culture and evolution of traditional archery.
-- MITAF International Youth Championship (Cilik) is also a dedicated platform for young archers to showcase their talent and nurture the next generation of traditional archers.
-- Malaysia Open Championship – An open competition welcoming all archers, celebrating Malaysia’s rich heritage in traditional archery.
-- Asean Collaboration of Traditional Archery (ACTA) Tournament – A regional tournament aimed at strengthening ties among Asean nations through their shared passion for traditional archery.
"MITAF25 is more than just a competition; it is a cultural and sporting celebration that highlights the historical significance and beauty of traditional archery while fostering international unity," said Zainurin Osman, the President of Traditional Archery Association of Malaysia and also the main organiser of the events.
"We are also thankful of receiving much help from Malaysian government on organising these event and we even hope that the Sports Ministry will continue supporting us."
Meanwhile, Muhammad Izuan Ahmad Kasim, the Member of the Selangor State Legislative Assembly for Kota Damansara, said he is proud that his constituency will play host for the exciting event.
"We (Selangor state) take this tournament as a wonderful entry for our Visit Selangor Year programme.
"This is a very exciting tournament that will feature many incredible archers. I take this opportunity to invite all Malaysians to be part of the excitement that comes with the festival," said Izuan.
In short, take a step into memory lane and for archery lovers just imagine that you are back in the times of wonder when archers are the greatest of warriors and see them in action in Selangor come this October.
