ASIA CUP ARCHERY TOURNAMENT TO BE HELD IN IRAQ: KAZAKHSTAN TEAM SET TO COMPETE

The second leg of the 2026 Asia Cup in archery will take place in Sulaymaniyah, Iraq, from 24 to 29 October. Athletes from several Asian countries will compete for medals in individual and team events at this international tournament, which counts towards the world ranking. Kazakhstan is also among the participating countries.

An International Tournament in Iraq

The second leg of the 2026 Asia Cup — 2026 Asia Cup – Leg II (World Ranking Tournament) — is one of the important international events on the World Archery Asia calendar. The tournament will be held in Sulaymaniyah, in Iraq’s Kurdistan Region.

The Sulaymaniyah Sports Club Stadium has been designated as the official competition venue. Hosting the international tournament will provide Iraq with an opportunity to develop archery, strengthen international sporting ties and expand its experience in organising major sporting events.

According to Saad Al-Mashhadani, President of the Iraqi Archery Federation, registration for participating countries has been completed. Organisers have reported that athletes from 19 Asian countries are expected to take part.

Kazakhstan’s Archers to Compete

Countries listed among the participants in the Asia Cup in Iraq include Kazakhstan, India, Iran, Uzbekistan, Malaysia, Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Tajikistan, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Palestine, Syria and Yemen.

For the Kazakhstan national team, the tournament will provide an opportunity to gain valuable international experience, compete against leading archers from across the continent and improve their positions in the world ranking.

Competition Schedule

According to the preliminary World Archery programme, the tournament will consist of several stages. Athletes will first compete in the qualification rounds, followed by individual, team and mixed team events.

23 October: Participants arrive in Iraq.
24 October: Official practice, equipment inspection and the team managers’ meeting.
25 October: Qualification rounds for recurve and compound archery.
26 October: Elimination rounds for individual, team and mixed team events.
27 October: Further individual elimination rounds, progressing towards the semi-finals.
28 October: Individual and team finals in compound archery, followed by award ceremonies.
29 October: Individual and team finals in recurve archery, followed by award ceremonies.
30 October: Departure of participants.

The organisers note that the schedule is preliminary and may be adjusted depending on the progress of the competition.

Medals to Be Contested in Two Disciplines

The Asia Cup programme features two main archery disciplines.

Recurve archery uses a traditional bow with limbs that curve away from the archer. This discipline is part of the Olympic Games programme.

Compound archery uses a system of cams and cables designed to help athletes achieve high levels of accuracy. It is contested as a separate discipline at international tournaments.

Both disciplines include individual and team competitions for men and women. Mixed team events are also scheduled.

An Important Tournament for the World Ranking

The Asia Cup in Sulaymaniyah is classified as a world-ranking tournament. Results achieved at events of this kind contribute to athletes’ international ranking positions and provide opportunities to earn ranking points.

The significance of the tournament extends beyond the medal standings. It gives athletes valuable competitive experience, allows them to refine their technical skills and helps them assess their preparation ahead of future international events.

Since recurve archery is part of the Olympic programme, international competitions in this discipline are particularly important. However, the Sulaymaniyah tournament should not be described as a direct Olympic qualification event: its official status is that of a world-ranking tournament.

An Important Sporting Event for Iraq

Hosting the Asia Cup is an opportunity for Iraq to demonstrate its capacity to organise international sporting events. According to the Iraqi Archery Federation, relevant government bodies, the National Olympic Committee and sports organisations are contributing to preparations for the tournament.

Representatives of the Asian archery federation and international sports organisations are also expected to attend. Media coverage and television broadcasting arrangements are among the matters being considered by the organisers.

The Sulaymaniyah tournament will give archers from across Asia an opportunity to showcase their skills while also supporting the development of sporting cooperation throughout the region.

Conclusion

The second leg of the 2026 Asia Cup in archery, scheduled for 24–29 October in Sulaymaniyah, will be an important international competition for Kazakhstan as well. At this world-ranking event, Kazakh athletes will have the opportunity to compete against leading archers from across Asia and demonstrate their level of preparation.

Information about Kazakhstan’s results, medal winners and the final competition standings will be added once official results are published.

We wish the Kazakhstan national team every success! May precision, determination and perseverance lead to new victories!