Bangladesh made a promising start on the opening day of the Teer 24th Asian Archery Championships 2025, as archers Ram Krishna Saha and Bonna Akter produced standout performances in the qualification rounds held in Dhaka on Sunday. Both athletes not only achieved personal milestones but also lifted Bangladesh’s hopes for the elimination stages.
In the compound women’s qualification, Bonna Akter delivered her career-best performance, scoring 693 points to place 12th overall, the highest among the Bangladeshi archers. Her strong showing helped Bangladesh set a new national record in the compound women’s team category, with a combined total of 2061 points, surpassing the previous mark of 2045.
“I am happy with my performance. I managed to match my practice scores even under pressure,” Bonna said after the round. “The wind was strong early on, but I stayed focused. If I can maintain this form, I believe I can do well. Our team is confident and ambitious.”
In the same event, Kulsuma Akter scored 688 to rank 17th, Pushpita Zaman scored 680 to finish 24th, and Mithila Akter scored 662 to place 32nd. All four Bangladeshi archers advanced to the elimination rounds, with three receiving byes into the round of 1/16. In the upcoming matches, Bonna will face Iran’s Bita Asheghzadeh Oskouei, Kulsuma will meet Fatemeh Bagheri of Iran, Pushpita will face South Korea’s Park Jungyoon, and Mithila will take on Saudi Arabia’s Raghad Kabi.
Meanwhile, in the recurve men’s qualification round, Ram Krishna Saha was Bangladesh’s top performer, maintaining consistency throughout his 72 arrows to finish sixth among 62 competitors with a total of 668 points. His result placed him among the top contenders in Asia and gave Bangladesh a strong position heading into the elimination rounds.
“I’ve earned a very good ranking,” said Ram Krishna. “Sixth place is a strong position for me. The wind was tricky, but I handled it with my basics. Knockouts are unpredictable, anyone can win on the day. But if I perform my best, I believe I can aim for a medal.”
Among other Bangladeshi recurve archers, Mohammad Rakib scored 647 to rank 32nd, Sagor Islam scored 639 to place 38th, and Abdur Rahman Alif scored 637 to finish 41st. All four received byes in the first elimination phase, with Ram Krishna advancing directly into the top 16 after earning two byes.
In the round of 24, Rakib will face Liu Tai-Yen of Chinese Taipei, Alif will meet Malaysia’s Muhammad Haiqal Danish Syamsul Affandi, and Sagor will compete against Vietnam’s Le Quoc Phong. In the team events, Bangladesh will face Vietnam in the recurve men’s competition for a quarter-final spot, while the women’s compound team will take on Kazakhstan for a place in the semi-finals.
Elsewhere, India dominated both qualification rounds, with Yashdeep Sanjay Bhoge topping the recurve men’s category with 687 points, and Deepshikha leading the compound women’s field with 705 points.
For Bangladesh, the opening day reflected steady progress in both men’s and women’s categories. The performances of Bonna and Ram Krishna offered encouragement to the home crowd, setting the tone for a competitive showing as the championships move into the knockout stages. With composure, confidence, and improved technique, Bangladesh’s archers are aiming not just to compete but to challenge for podium finishes on home soil.
