About the
Conquest Shield

The Conquest Shield is a traditional target archery competition hosted annually by Iḥyā ar-Rimāyah — a school of traditional archery rooted in the teachings of Arab, Mamlūk, and Ottoman masters. For us, archery is more than a sport. It is a path of discipline, focus, and self-mastery, and a revival of the Sunnah of the Prophet Muḥammad ﷺ among Muslim youth, women, and men.

While the competition is governed by Islamic tradition, morals, and values, the Conquest Shield warmly welcomes archers of all backgrounds who share a love for the traditional bow and the cultures that shaped it.

Learn About Iḥyā ar-Rimāyah ⟶

Our Story

We started the Conquest Shield because there was nothing else like it in South Africa.

Our members were travelling abroad to compete on the world stage — the World Nomad Games, the KOREA Ulsan Traditional Archery World Cup, the Conquest Cup in Türkiye — and we recognised a gap at home. South African traditional archers had no local arena in which to test themselves, gain competition experience, and prepare for the global level. The Conquest Shield was created to fill that gap: to level archers up, to test their endurance and precision, to inspire them, and — at its heart — to be a celebration of the traditional bow.

From the very first edition, the competition has been held over two days: Saturday for the women's divisions, Sunday for the men's.

Conquest Shield 1445 AH
(30 September – 1 October 2023)

Our inaugural competition. A single category for adult men and women, shooting the Ottoman/Turkish Puta target — men from 35m to 45m, women from 23m. A modest beginning, but the foundation of everything that has followed.

Conquest Shield 1446 AH
(7 – 8 December 2024)

The competition grew. We introduced a Youth Males category (25m–35m), extended the men's distances toward 50m in the finals, and pushed the adult women's distance to 35m. Seventy-six archers competed. It was also the year we launched a dedicated website for the competition, recognising that the Conquest Shield was becoming something larger than a single event.

Conquest Shield 1447 AH
(16 – 17 May 2026)

This year marks our third edition, and our largest yet. We have expanded to six categories:

Youth Females, 10–14 years (20m)
Women's Entry, 15+ (20m–30m)
Women's Experience, 15+ (30m–40m)
Youth Males, 10–14 years (20m–30m)
Men's Entry, 15+ (20m–30m)
Men's Experience, 15+ (50m–60m)

It is also the year we unveiled a new crest for the Conquest Shield — a visual identity that carries the spirit of the competition into its next chapter.

We've also launched a live scores site for the first time — bringing real-time scoring, leaderboards, and rankings to anyone following the competition, whether on the field or from afar.

Follow the Competition Live ⟶

Each year, we push to grow the competition further — more categories, more archers, more presence. Inshā'Allāh, the years ahead will see the Conquest Shield continue to expand in both reach and depth.

How the Competition Runs

Each day begins with qualifiers, after which archers progress to knockout rounds and, finally, to the finals. Qualifiers and knockouts are shot at the same distance; the finals are shot at a longer distance, demanding everything the archer has to give.

Winners in each category are awarded the Kalkan Shield — the trophy that gives the competition its name. The kalkan is the traditional round shield carried by Ottoman and Mamlūk warriors, woven from cane and reinforced with iron bands and a steel boss at its centre. Strong enough to turn both arrows and sword blows, it has come to symbolise the resilience and craftsmanship of the cultures that produced some of history's finest archers.

The top three in each category receive prizes, and we also award Best Dressed, in recognition of the archers who most beautifully embody the spirit of the day. Every participating archer takes home a participation medal.

Archers are encouraged to come dressed in traditional attire inspired by the cultures with rich archery heritage — Arab, Ottoman, Mamlūk, Mongolian, Korean, Japanese, Native American, Eastern European, and beyond.

The competition grounds are filled with food and craft vendors, and the day's programme also includes brief talks of encouragement, nashīds, and other moments that bring the community together beyond the shooting line.

Who Can Compete

The Conquest Shield is open to archers who are members of TAASA (the Traditional Archery Association of South Africa), as well as those affiliated with established traditional archery schools, clubs, and academies, accredited federations and associations, and WMASS-affiliated masjid archery teams.

Looking Ahead

We intend to grow the Conquest Shield into an international competition — a destination event that draws traditional archers from around the world to South African soil. Each year, we aim to raise our standard in organisation, infrastructure, facilities, and resources, working towards alignment with the World Traditional Archery Federation (WTAF) standard.

For our own archers, the Conquest Shield will continue to serve as a proving ground — preparation and experience for those who go on to represent us at the World Nomad Games, the Korea Ulsan Traditional Archery World Cup, the Conquest Cup, and beyond.

For the wider community, it will remain what it has always been: a day of shooting, of brotherhood and sisterhood, of celebration, and — for those of us who walk this path — a revival of a living Sunnah.

Partner With Us

The Conquest Shield is currently funded privately, through individual donations and the fundraising efforts of Iḥyā ar-Rimāyah. We are seeking a partner sponsor willing to walk this journey with us — to help shape the Conquest Shield into the world-class competition we envision, and to share in its growth year on year.

If you or your organisation would like to support the growth of traditional archery in South Africa — and help us build a competition worthy of welcoming the world — we would be honoured to hear from you. We also warmly welcome donors who wish to contribute towards the running of the competition.

Partner With Us ⟶

To every archer, volunteer, supporter, and well-wisher who has walked this path with us so far — Jazākum Allāhu khayran.
And to those joining us for the first time, whatever your background or belief: Welcome to the Conquest Shield.

Google Sites