In a thrilling finale at the Army Stadium in Banani, Bangladesh’s archery duo Himu Bashar and Bonna Akter narrowly missed out on gold, losing 151–153 to India in the compound mixed team final of the Asian Archery Championship. Though the gold slipped away, the silver medal marked a historic first for Bangladesh in the compound event.
The final two days of the championship were moved to Banani due to the Bangladesh–Nepal football fixture. It proved to be a perfect venue for Bangladesh’s breakthrough moment in international archery.
In 2023, Bangladesh returned empty-handed from the Bangkok Asian Archery Championship. But this year, they have rewritten history — this is Bangladesh’s first-ever medal in the compound category, breaking the dominance of the recurve discipline where the nation traditionally excelled.
| Opponent | Result | Score | Stage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bhutan | Bangladesh win | 154–148 | Round 1 |
| Iran | Bangladesh win | — | Quarter-Final |
| South Korea | Bangladesh win | 158–153 | Semi-Final |
| India | India win | 153–151 | Final |
The Bangladeshi pair began their campaign impressively, defeating Bhutan and Iran with clinical precision. Their biggest triumph came in the semi-final, where they stunned powerhouse South Korea 158–153 to reach the gold medal match. Despite a valiant effort, they fell just short against India in a nail-biting final.
For Bonna Akter, this silver marks her sixth international medal, including five in team events and one in individual competition. Himu Bashar, meanwhile, claimed his second international medal.
While the gold eluded them, this silver carries immense value — it proves Bangladesh’s potential in the compound event, a category where success had long remained elusive.
Archery Federation officials hailed the performance, saying it will inspire the next generation of Bangladeshi compound archers and solidify the country’s growing presence in Asian archery.
