Bhutan’s underdog archery squad made waves yesterday at the Gyeyang Open, part of the prestigious Incheon 2025 Archery Championship, as Kinley Tshering surged into the third round before bowing out in an electrifying tie-breaker.
Tshering, the 24-year-old who has rapidly become one of Bhutan’s rising stars in the sport, stunned the home crowd by toppling South Korean hope Lee Seungil 6–4 in their individual elimination match. After trading arrows point for point in the opening ends, Tshering’s steely composure under pressure allowed him to edge ahead, converting two critical set victories when the score was knotted at 2–2.
“I focused on my breathing and blocked out the noise,” Tshering said after his victory. “Competing against a South Korean archer on home turf could have overwhelmed me, but I reminded myself that every arrow counts the same, whether you’re on the range in Thimphu or Incheon.”
Buoyed by that upset, Tshering faced compatriot-turned-foe Choi Doohee in the third round. The two archers finished level at 5–5, forcing a one-arrow shoot-off. Choi’s arrow landed a hair’s breadth closer to the center, ending Tshering’s spirited run.
“Losing by such a small margin is tough,” Tshering admitted. “But I’m proud of how far I came, and I’ll learn from today to be better tomorrow.”
Bhutan’s other representatives—veteran Sonam Penjor and newcomer Karma Lhendup—had been knocked out in earlier elimination rounds, unable to replicate Tshering’s breakthrough. Penjor, who has competed in multiple international fixtures, fell to South Korea’s Kim Dong-woo in straight sets, while Lhendup exited after a closely contested match against Japan’s Akiro Nakamura.
Despite the mixed results, Bhutan’s performance signals the Himalayan nation’s continued ascent in the archery arena, an area of national pride and traditional significance. Archery, Bhutan’s national sport, is practiced from the foothills to the high valleys, and the country has steadily improved its international standing.
Team coach Tashi Dorji remained optimistic: “Today’s contests show our athletes can challenge the best. We’ll return to Bhutan, refine our technique, and come back stronger.”
The Gyeyang Open continues through the weekend, with mixed team and compound events still to come. Bhutan’s contingent will aim to add further upsets before the championship concludes on May 25.
