Competencia de arqueros en Turquía

Caftans and Quivers: An Archery Competition 500 Years in the Making

ISTANBUL — Adnan Mehel walked onto the field wearing an Ottoman-style robe and boots modeled after those worn by a 16th-century sultan.  He trained his eye on his students as they stepped up to the starting line and aimed their bows. Mehel, who was instrumental in reviving traditional archery like this a decade ago, was watching over the fifth annual Conquest Cup, an archery competition that celebrates the anniversary of the conquest of Constantinople in 1453.

The event, which Mehel helps organize, was held over three days in late May at the Okcular Vakfi, which means “archery foundation.” One of the oldest sporting clubs in the country, it was originally a staging ground for Fatih Sultan Mehmet’s army of archers before they invaded Constantinople 564 years ago. The sultan was so impressed by his archers’ skill that he gave the land to them, and a tradition was born.

At the competition, a horn sounds and a group of archers dressed in traditional clothing hurry to the starting line. Each participant wears an outfit connected to their personal history. Some 427 competitors from 37 countries compete in the Conquest Cup, and the majority of the Turkish competitors are dressed in Ottoman-era outfits.

Rafael Tulegnov, a 30-year-old from Kazakhstan, wears clothing inspired by Genghis Khan that he designed himself. Competitors from Britain and Ireland came dressed as characters from Robin Hood.

ISTANBUL — Adnan Mehel walked onto the field wearing an Ottoman-style robe and boots modeled after those worn by a 16th-century sultan.  He trained his eye on his students as they stepped up to the starting line and aimed their bows. Mehel, who was instrumental in reviving traditional archery like this a decade ago, was watching over the fifth annual Conquest Cup, an archery competition that celebrates the anniversary of the conquest of Constantinople in 1453.

The event, which Mehel helps organize, was held over three days in late May at the Okcular Vakfi, which means “archery foundation.” One of the oldest sporting clubs in the country, it was originally a staging ground for Fatih Sultan Mehmet’s army of archers before they invaded Constantinople 564 years ago. The sultan was so impressed by his archers’ skill that he gave the land to them, and a tradition was born.

At the competition, a horn sounds and a group of archers dressed in traditional clothing hurry to the starting line. Each participant wears an outfit connected to their personal history. Some 427 competitors from 37 countries compete in the Conquest Cup, and the majority of the Turkish competitors are dressed in Ottoman-era outfits.

Rafael Tulegnov, a 30-year-old from Kazakhstan, wears clothing inspired by Genghis Khan that he designed himself.  Competitors from Britain and Ireland came dressed as characters from Robin Hood.