Bangladesh secure Silver after stunning South Korea

Bangla Press Desk:   It was a historic day for Bangladesh archery on Wednesday at the National Stadium, as the hosts reached the final of the Asian Archery Championship after a stunning 158-153 victory over powerhouse South Korea in the compound mixed team semifinals. With the win, Bangladesh guaranteed at least a silver medal, sparking celebrations among local athletes.

The championship, co-hosted at the National Stadium and Army Stadium, saw Bangladesh shine in the final events before the venue transition. Compound archers Himu Bachhar and Bonna Akter displayed exceptional composure and accuracy, outshooting their Korean counterparts to make the final—Bangladesh’s first-ever compound medal at the Asian level.

“This is Bangladesh’s first compound medal in Asian archery, and I’m proud to be a part of it,” said an elated Himu Bachhar after the match. Looking ahead to the final, where Bangladesh will face India, he added, “We’ve beaten South Korea, so why not India? We’ll play for gold.”

For Bonna Akter, the medal comes as a reward for perseverance and teamwork. “In previous Asian Championships, I scored well but missed the podium. This time, I focused fully on the mixed event. My partner and I supported each other, and that teamwork got us to the final,” she said.

Korea is a global superpower in archery, with a rich history of Olympic and world titles. Beating them is no small feat. Bonna, who hails from Faridpur, explained, “I’ve gained experience from several international events over the last three years. I didn’t fear the Koreans—just played my natural game.”

Despite their success, compound archers in Bangladesh often lack the support given to recurve stars like Roman Sana and Diya Siddique. Bonna and teammate Ashik renewed their call for a foreign coach and better international exposure, saying, “With proper facilities, we can bring even more glory for Bangladesh.”

BP/TD