Published: 12:26 AM, 02 November 2026
Bangladesh Archery team returns home with Asia Cup glory
The returning archers received a warm and floral reception from Mr. Kazi Rajib Uddin Ahmed Chapol, President of the Bangladesh Archery Federation and President of World Archery Asia. - BAF
Continuing the country's remarkable achievements on the international stage, the Bangladesh National Archery Team returned home with an impressive haul of 10 medals, comprising 3 Gold, 3 Silver and 4 Bronze, from the Asia Cup Archery - World Ranking Tournament, Stage-2, 2026, held in Sulaymaniyah, Iraq.
The Bangladesh team arrived at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at 4:45 AM on Sunday, 1 November. The returning archers received a warm and floral reception from Mr. Kazi Rajib Uddin Ahmed Chapol, President of the Bangladesh Archery Federation and President of World Archery Asia.
Among those present at the airport to welcome the team were Mr. Md. Mahfuzul Alam Khan, Acting Secretary of the Ministry of Youth and Sports; Mr. Tanvir Ahmed, General Secretary of the Bangladesh Archery Federation; Mr. Md. Rubel Hossain, Joint Secretary; Mr. Sohel Rana, Joint Secretary; senior officials of the Ministry; other federation officials; coaches; sports personalities; and enthusiastic supporters. Their presence created a festive and celebratory atmosphere at the airport.
The competition was held from 24 to 29 October in Sulaymaniyah, Iraq, where Bangladeshi archers demonstrated outstanding skill and performance in both Recurve and Compound categories.
One of the most remarkable achievements came in the Recurve Men's Team event, where Bangladesh defeated Kazakhstan 6-2 in set points to secure its first-ever gold medal in the Asia Cup in this event. The historic victory was achieved by the team comprising Abdur Rahman Alif, Md. Sagar Islam and Abdullah Al Mohammad Rafi.
Bangladesh also secured gold in the Compound Women's Team event. The trio of Bonna Akter, Sriporna Biswas and Kulsum Akter Moni defeated Kazakhstan by 230-220 points to claim the gold medal.
In the Compound Women's Individual event, Bonna Akter defeated Kazakhstan's Milana Burleva 145-143 to win her first international individual gold medal.
In addition to these three gold medals, Bangladeshi archers secured 3 silver and 4 bronze medals, bringing the country's total medal tally to 10. This achievement further strengthens Bangladesh's position in international archery.
Upon returning home, gold medallist Bonna Akter expressed her joy, stating that this was her first individual gold medal at the Asia Cup. She added that the achievement would inspire her to perform even better in major international competitions, including the World Cup, World Championships and the Olympic Games.
The gold-winning Recurve Men's Team members described their achievement as the result of years of hard work and dedication. They also expressed their determination to achieve greater success for the country on the international stage.
Head Coach Martin Frederick stated that a significant number of young archers were included in the team. Special consideration was given to providing international exposure to athletes from the Under-21 and Under-18 age groups. He noted that competing in finals before large international audiences would help develop their confidence, competitive experience and technical abilities for future tournaments.
Mr. Md. Mahfuzul Alam Khan, Acting Secretary of the Ministry of Youth and Sports, highlighted the government's long-term plans and various initiatives aimed at developing athletes and making them more competitive at the international level.
He informed that the government is implementing a special sports allowance programme to ensure financial security for talented athletes. Under this initiative, approximately 300 athletes are receiving a monthly sports allowance of BDT 100,000 each. The initiative aims to reduce athletes' financial concerns and enable them to concentrate more effectively on sports and training.
