Dramatic Comeback in the Final Set! Kulsum Akter Wins Historic Bronze at the Asian Archery Championships
Bangladesh once again tasted success at the Asian Archery Championships, with a day full of milestones at the Army Stadium in Dhaka this afternoon. The nation secured two medals in the compound events, marking another proud chapter in its growing archery legacy.
In the morning session, Himu Bashar and Bannya Akter claimed silver in the mixed compound event, narrowly losing to India by 151–153 points. Later in the day, Kulsum Akter earned a historic bronze medal in the women’s individual compound category — turning the day into one of celebration for Bangladeshi archery.
Kulsum narrowly missed out on the final after losing her semi-final by a single point (145–146) to India’s Prithika Pradeep. However, she produced a stunning comeback in the bronze medal match, defeating Chen Sih of Chinese Taipei by 145–144 points, sealing one of the most remarkable victories of her career.
Match Summary
| Set | Kulsum Akter’s Score | Opponent Chen Sih’s Score | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 29 | 30 | Trailing |
| 2nd | 29 | 29 | Tied |
| 3rd | 29 | 29 | Tied |
| 4th | 28 | 29 | Trailing |
| 5th | 30 | 27 | Victory |
In the decisive final set, Kulsum delivered a magnificent turnaround, scoring a perfect 30 to overcome a two-point deficit and secure a three-point win margin.
An elated Kulsum expressed her joy after the match:
“The day ended wonderfully for me. I was quite nervous at the beginning and thought I might come away with nothing. But to finally win a medal—it truly feels amazing.”
Bangladesh, long known for stars such as Ruman Shana in the recurve division, is now emerging as a new force in compound archery.
At the 22nd Asian Archery Championships held in Dhaka in 2021, Bangladesh won one silver and two bronze medals. However, the 2023 event in Thailand brought no podium finishes. Thus, the 2025 success has been hailed as a renewed source of inspiration for Bangladesh’s archery scene, symbolising progress and resilience on the continental stage.
