Hungry for the hunt

With The Hunger Games: Catching Fire showing in cinemas, archery - and anything that involves shooting, for that matter - is catching on.

The film franchise, starring Jennifer Lawrence as bow-and-arrow ace Katniss Everdeen who battles to survive in a dystopian state, has sparked a trend for shooting sports and combat games worldwide.

These include archery, archery tag (where people "tag" one another with foam-tipped arrows) and laser tag (where people tag one another with infrared- ray-emitting guns).

In Singapore, Tag Team Inc, which organises corporate and private archery tag and laser tag games, says it has received more requests for archery tag since the film opened last week.

From 20 to 30 customers a month earlier this year, they now conduct events for up to 150 people every month.

Its business development manager, Mr John Lim, 30, says: "Movies such as The Hunger Games series make archery popular and hip, and people want to try what it's like to shoot an arrow."

Sports company Do Xtreme, which organises archery tag, speed tag and paintball events, has held Hunger Games-themed events in the past.

It plans to launch a Hunger Games version of archery tag next year, where teams have to defend their own zones while trying to eliminate other teams and take over their sections. "It's a way to bring young people together in friendly competition," says Ms Nur Jumaiyah Amat, 24, Do Xtreme's general manager.

Life!Weekend susses out where you can simulate your own Hunger Games.

vlydia@sph.com.sg

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