When Kulsum Akter Moni first heard the word “archery,” she had no idea what it meant. Two years later, the girl from a small village in Thakurgaon now stands on the verge of winning a medal for Bangladesh at the Asian Archery Championships 2025.
Kulsum, a student at the Bangladesh Krira Shikkha Protishtan (BKSP), joined the sports institute in 2023 without ever having touched a bow. “I didn’t even know what archery was,” she recalled in a conversation after reaching the semi-finals of the women’s compound event in Bangkok. “My physical education teacher encouraged me to attend the BKSP trials. Once I tried it, I became curious. It was new, it was challenging and I loved it.”
Her journey since then has been rapid. Assigned to the compound category from the start, Kulsum took time to adjust but kept improving. “At first my scores weren’t good. Then, in 2024, I won gold at the Junior Nationals,” she said. “That gave me confidence to work harder. My coaches and teammates have supported me so much.”
Now, the 10th-grade student is Bangladesh’s last hope in the Asian Archery Championships, having beaten opponents from Iran, India, and Kazakhstan to reach the semi-finals. She credits her progress to faith, focus, and teamwork. “I never think about winning gold or silver. I just tell myself that if Allah wills, I’ll give my best for my country,” she said.
Born to a tea stall owner, Mohammad Osman Gani, and Beauty Begum, Kulsum grew up in a modest household in Thakurgaon’s Salandar area. “My father always supported me. He believed his daughter could do something,” she said with a smile. “My mother wasn’t sure at first, but now she’s my biggest supporter.”
Kulsum dreams of representing Bangladesh at the Olympics one day. “It’s everyone’s dream to play at the Olympics. I also want to qualify and bring pride to my country,” she said.
Asked about her future, she replied simply, “If I hadn’t found archery, I might have done nothing. But now I have a dream, to make my country proud.”
