Sifat Ullah Galib and Nazmul Hasan Joy stormed to men’s doubles gold of Badminton Asia South Asia Regional Championship 2026 in Islamabad on Tuesday, beat Maldives’ Prince Dahal and Kristij Kahal 2–1 in the final, and sparked wild celebrations across the Bangladesh camp as the national anthem rang out in Pakistan.
They refused to blink under pressure. The Maldivian pair brought pedigree, with Dahal a former world junior No.1, but Galib and Joy matched that with grit and sharp court craft. They controlled the rallies when it mattered and punished loose returns with ruthless precision.
Galib did not stop there. He added a bronze medal in the under-23 men’s singles, proving his range and stamina across formats. He shifted gears from doubles aggression to singles resilience without losing his edge.
Coach Mostafa Md. Javed saw this coming. He said,”Najmul and Galib have worked hard for a long time. This success on the international stage is the result of their effort.” He did not dress it up. The pair earned this through repetition, discipline, and a clear plan.
He added, “This achievement will boost the confidence of Bangladesh’s athletes in bigger competitions in the future.” That feels accurate rather than hopeful. Wins like this change dressing rooms. Players start to expect results, not just chase them.
Bangladesh built this victory on simple, effective ideas. Galib and Joy kept their shape tight, cut off angles at the net, and forced their opponents to play one extra shot every rally. That patience frustrated the Maldivians and created the openings.
The celebrations told their own story. Galib and Joy waved the flag, soaked in the moment, and let the anthem carry across the hall. Teammates and officials watched with pride as the medals went on.
