Mamluk Games 2025

Written by Mahmoud Qalyoubi

A mix of happy emotions is flowing through my veins! The news that MA Arabia is hosting the first-ever Mamluk Games was such an exciting one! The dream of gathering the Mamluk Academy family in one place is finally coming true. Brothers and sisters from all over the world made their arrangements, packed their bags, and set off for a lifetime experience in the Arabian desert of the Middle East. Mamluk Academy has made history by bringing the past to life in the modern world!

Fifteen coaches from MA Academy clubs in Germany, Türkiye, the United Kingdom, the United Arab Emirates, and the United States competed fiercely showcasing their skills.

The Mamluk Games 2025 examined participants in various archery disciplines: Horseback Archery, Target Archery, and Flight Archery. In this extraordinary event, a total of 5 competitions were carried over a period of three days where athletes combined their scores across all three disciplines to revive the legendary abilities of the true Mamluk warriors.

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DAY 1: A Legendary Start!

The adventure kicked off bright and early as participants gathered to ride out into the breathtaking Arabian desert — on horseback! With the spirit of the “Mamluk” alive in the air, riders wondered across golden dunes, weaving through serene palm tree farms and even encountering camels crossing their path. It was a magical, cinematic journey straight out of history!

After returning from the exhilarating desert ride, it was time to channel that adrenaline into precision. Archers stepped up to the challenge in the first Target Archery Competition — a thrilling 18-meter shootout! With 25 arrows each, every shot demanded focus, control, and mastery of ancient Mamluk techniques. Tension was high, but so was the skill on display.

The action didn’t stop there! In the afternoon, archers took on the Karanis Tiraz exam — a pivotal test that serves as the first official certification in the Mamluk Academy. Passing it means more than just recognition; it’s the key to unlocking the epic horseback archery competition awaiting on Days 2 & 3. The stakes are rising, and the journey has just begun!

Target Archery Results:

🏅 Gold Medal: Muhammad Gilmore / MA UK

🥈 Silver Medal: Kristie Bocanegra / MA USA

🥉 Bronze Medal: Jehad Shamis / MA UK

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DAY 2: Gallop, Aim, Fire! A Day of Archery Glory

The sun rose on Day 2 with a golden shimmer, casting its light on a dazzling display of tradition and thrill! Riders stepped into the spotlight, proudly donning their vibrant traditional attire. Bows were strung, intricately crafted quivers strapped firmly to their thighs, and arrows sharpened to perfection. With fierce determination, they mounted their bold and fearless horses—ready to charge into the exhilarating battlefield of the legendary "Tabla 4" Horseback Archery Track Competition.

This electrifying challenge featured four circular targets, each 60cm in diameter—two demanding precise side shots, one a dead-ahead forward strike, and the last a thrilling backshot. Each warrior had eight runs down the 90-meter track: two to warm up, six for glory!

"Tabla 4" Horseback Archery Results:

·        🥇 Gold: Mahmoud Qalyoubi / MA UAE

·        🥈 Silver: Maymunah Rodrigues / MA UK

·        🥉 Bronze: Baris Demirtas / MA TR

But the excitement didn’t stop there!

As the day continued and the sky blushed with hues of orange and crimson, archers returned for a ground-based test of precision and poise—the 60m Puta Target Archery Competition. Against the stunning backdrop of a setting sun, each shot flew through the air, showcasing pure skill, focus, and passion.

🎯 Target Archery Results:

• 🥇 Gold: Kristie Bocanegra / MA USA

• 🥈 Silver: Jehad Shamis / MA UK

• 🥉 Bronze: Benjamin Gilmore / MA UK

What a day of heart-pounding action and unforgettable moments! 

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DAY 3: The Thrilling End!

What a thrilling start to the day! A fresh, misty morning has just begun, and the third day of the Mamluk Games 2025 is already buzzing with excitement! Participants are revving up their 4-wheel trucks, ready to conquer the shimmering dunes and venture deep into the heart of the majestic Arabian desert.

And that’s not all—today marks the much-anticipated Flight Shooting competition! This epic contest requires a vast open landscape, as skilled archers prepare to unleash their arrows using traditional mamluk techniques, all aiming to shoot the farthest from a single landmark point.

Can anyone beat the incredible record set at the very first Mamluk Games—a jaw-dropping 224 meters? Let the arrows fly and history be made!

🎯 Flight Archery Results:

• 🥇 Gold: Benjamin Gilmore / MA UK

• 🥈 Silver: Baris Demirtas / MA TR 

• 🥉 Bronze: Mahmoud Qalyoubi / MA UAE

In the afternoon, the thrilling 90-meter “Qabak 6” horseback archery track was the grand finale of the incredible first-ever Mamluk Games 2025—and what an epic way to end it! This intense course featured two fierce Kikac targets—one right at the start and another waiting at the finish line—with a dramatic Qabak pole standing tall in the center, challenging competitors to give it their all.

Each archer faced eight adrenaline-pumping runs—two warmups to get in the zone, followed by six high-stakes, point-scoring sprints. Hitting a Kikac target? Boom—three points! But the real showstopper was the Qabak disc. Depending on how deeply the archer bent back in classic horseback style, they could earn three, five, or even a whopping eight points!

Archers loaded up with a full quiver of arrows—razor-sharp ones for the Kikac targets and special rubber-tipped ones for the Qabak. And here’s the coolest part: competitors had to hold those rubber-ended arrows in their drawing hand using the legendary Seljuk technique. It’s a tough, traditional method from the time of our ancestors, designed for lightning-fast knocking and shooting—adding both skill and historical flair to an already electric event!

"Qabak 6" Horseback Archery Results 

• 🥇 Gold: Mahmoud Qalyoubi / MA UAE

• 🥈 Silver: Yousef Azrak / MA UAE 

• 🥉 Bronze: Ozlem Celebi / MA Germany

In the evenings, the wider Mamluk Academy family came together to visit attractions and explore the prominent landmarks of the fabulous city of Dubai. However, the last evening of the program was something truly special. It was filled with activities and fantastic food, all themed around “A Baroque Night in the Desert.”

I’m proud to say that, for the first time in modern history, a single event united all major archery disciplines. Mamluk Academy is thrilled and honored to have established a new tradition that celebrates both history and skill.

If anything, this brings us even closer to our slogan: “Carrying on the Tradition”!

The final overall three top participants were:

• 🥇 Gold: Mahmoud Qalyoubi / MA UAE

• 🥈 Silver: Jehad Shamis / MA UK

• 🥉 Bronze: Baris Demirtas / MA TR