China’s first national traditional horseback archery competition has brought riders from across China and overseas to Inner Mongolia during the National Day holiday, highlighting the growing popularity of the sport ahead of its debut at the 2030 Doha Asian Games.

Mounted archery requires riders to fire arrows at targets while their horses gallop at full speed, combining precision, horsemanship and agility.

Held in the border city of Erenhot from October 1 to 7, the event featured three tournaments, including the inaugural National Mongolian Horse Super League, the National Mounted Archery Tour and the Erenhot International Masters Tournament.

More than 150 domestic riders from 22 provincial-level regions joined 139 competitors from 23 countries and regions, competing in five disciplines including horseback archery, endurance racing, horse racing and trick riding.

China now has more than 100 mounted archery clubs and 22 standardised training bases. The competitions are also helping showcase the value of Mongolian horses and support the development of China’s equestrian industry.