Bangladesh grab first-ever compound gold in Asia Cup archery

Bangladesh bagged gold medal in men's compound team event of Asia Cup-World Ranking Tournamen Stage-1 by beating Vietnam 231-225 in final held in Bangkok, Thailand, today.

Bangladesh team, featuring Himu Bacchar, Aishwarzo Rahman and Newaz Ahmed Rakib, made 57 against Vietnam's 55 in the first set and never lagged behind in the race; though the men in red and green scored one less than Vietnam in the fourth set, they were overall three above of the opponents.

Bangladesh finally made 59 out of 60 in the fifth and final set to finish much ahead of Vietnam to confirm first-ever gold medal in men's compound team event in Asia Cup.

"Beyond South Asia region, it has been the first-ever gold medal in compound event for Bangladesh, who had before won men's team silver medal twice Asia Cup held in South Korea and Iraq in 2021 and 2022 respectively," Bangladesh archery team's assistant coach, Noor E Alam, told The Daily Star over phone from Bangkok.

Alam, also a BKSP archery coach, informed that it has also been maiden gold medal for all three archers -- Himu, Aishwarzo and Rakib -- as Himu was part of Bangladesh team during the silver medal triumph in South Korea and Iraq, while Rakib was a silver-winning member in Iraq.