Bangladeshi archers have made a strong impression at the ongoing Asian Archery Championship, achieving their best-ever performances in both the recurve men’s and compound women’s qualification rounds.
Bonya Akter, competing in the women’s compound event, achieved a career-best score of 693, setting a new national record for Bangladesh and finishing 12th overall. In the men’s recurve category, Ram Krishna Saha shot an impressive 668, earning 6th place, one of the best positions ever secured by a Bangladeshi male archer in continental competition.
India’s Deepshikha topped the women’s compound qualification with 705 points, but Bonya’s performance was hailed as a historic milestone for Bangladesh on the international stage.
Qualification Round Results
| Category | Archer | Score | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Compound Women | Bonya Akter | 693 | 12 |
| Compound Women | Kulsum Akter | 688 | 17 |
| Compound Women | Pushpita Jaman | 680 | 24 |
| Compound Women | Mithila Akter | 662 | 32 |
| Recurve Men | Ram Krishna Saha | 668 | 6 |
| Recurve Men | Mohammad Rakib | 647 | 32 |
| Recurve Men | Sagar Islam | 639 | 38 |
| Recurve Men | Abdur Rahman Alif | 637 | 41 |
After achieving her personal best, Bonya expressed her delight and optimism:
“I’m really happy with today’s result. The wind was strong during the first round, but it gradually settled. This is my best international score so far, and it gives me great confidence for tomorrow’s matches.”
Ram Krishna also shared his determination:
“Finishing sixth wasn’t easy. In the knockout rounds, anything can happen — anyone can beat anyone. I’ll give my best effort, and I’m hopeful for a medal.”
Upcoming Knockout Round Fixtures
| Archer | Opponent |
|---|---|
| Mohammad Rakib | Liu Tai-Yen (Chinese Taipei) |
| Abdur Rahman Alif | Muhammad Haikal Danish (Malaysia) |
| Sagar Islam | Li Quoc Phong (Vietnam) |
| Mithila Akter | Raghad Kabi (Saudi Arabia) |
| Kulsum Akter | Fatemeh Bagheri (Iran) |
| Pushpita Jaman | Park Jong Un (South Korea) |
| Bonya Akter | Bita Oskoi Asheghzadeh (Iran) |
In the team events, the Bangladesh men’s recurve team will face Vietnam for a place in the semi-finals, while the women’s compound team are set to take on Kazakhstan.
These record-breaking performances have boosted morale within the Bangladeshi camp. With several archers entering the knockout stage in strong form, Bangladesh’s prospects for securing medals have never looked brighter.