SPORTS REPORTER

Bangladesh bagged gold medal in men’s compound team event of Asia Cup Archery (World Ranking Tournament Stage-1) by beating Vietnam 231-225 in final held in Bangkok on Friday.

Bangladesh team, featuring Himu Bacchar, Aishwarzo Rahman and Newaz Ahmed Rakib, scored 57 against Vietnam’s 55 in the first set and never looked back. Even though the men in red and green scored one less than Vietnam in the fourth set, they were overall three ahead of the opponents.

Bangladesh eventually scored 59 out of 60 in the fifth and final set to finish six points ahead of Vietnam to confirm first-ever gold medal in men’s compound team event.

“It is the first-ever gold medal in compound event for Bangladesh beyond the South Asian region. Bangladesh had previously won men’s team silver medal twice in Asia Cup 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 informed that it is also a maiden gold medal for all three archers -- Himu, Aishwarzo and Rakib. 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.