The 10th edition of the National Archery Championships, which will get underway at the Shaheed Ahsan Ullah Master Stadium in Tongi today, is expected to be more competitive than the previous editions.

All national archers including Roman Sana, who came back home from Switzerland from IOC-sanctioned advanced training, are all set to fight neck-and-neck as the performances of the archers in the national championships will be counted by coach Martin Frederick ahead of next February's ISSF Islamic Solidarity Archery Championships in Bangladesh.

Bangladesh Archery Federation (BAF) has to send entries by December 30 although 27 countries have already ensured their participation in the tourney.

Obviously, the archers will try their best to impress the national coach by giving their best shot to be selected for the preliminary national team. Besides, the championship is considered to be a platform for the national archers to show their improvement.

Some 165 archers including 33 female players from 40 teams are expected to vie in 10 events -- five each for male and female and two mixed events.