ASTANA

Archery is getting a great deal of interest at the current 5th World Nomad Games held in Kazakhstan, said the head of the Turkish Traditional Archery Federation on Wednesday.

Cengiz Toksoz told Anadolu that traditional Turkish archery events, which are listed on UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage List, are followed with great interest in Kazakhstan, including during the weeklong games, which are set to wrap up on Saturday.

"Athletes competing in traditional archery have helped promote Turkey by wearing outfits that reflect Turkish motifs and traditions," Tokgoz said.

Their goal is not just to shoot arrows but also to showcase the clothing they design, which embodies Turkish traditions and patterns, and to serve as cultural ambassadors, he said.

Togsoz added that they proudly represent Türkiye with a delegation of 10 athletes who qualified to compete after rigorous national qualifiers.

"Currently, we stand as one of the fastest-growing federations in the nation, boasting over 21,000 licensed athletes and more than 700 registered clubs. As a federation, we continue our work without letup to bring Turkish archery to more people."

The 5th World Nomad Games are taking place in Kazakhstan's capital Astana on Sept. 8-14 under the motto "Uly Dala dubiri,” meaning "Gathering in the Great Steppe.”

Held since 2014, the event also includes traditional sports such as riding, wrestling, and hunting.