Archery is a sport that rarely gets the spotlight in Bangladesh. In a country dominated by cricket and football, it has recently tasted continental glory in archery, something it hasn’t achieved in the other two sports.
And at the heart of that achievement is one man, Abdur Rahman Alif. The 19-year-old defeated Japan’s Miyata Gakuto to win gold at the Asia Cup Archery, a feat celebrated across the nation.
Times Sports sat down with Alif to talk about his journey, his remarkable mindset, and what the future holds.
When you were up there, neck and neck with Miyata Gakuto, and you shot that perfect 10 to win the game, what was going through your mind?
I was always confident I could hit a 10. In that moment, I knew I had to pull it off to win. I did my best and left the rest to the Almighty, and thankfully, I scored the 10.
Were you nervous at that moment?
Not at all. I knew what I had to do. I thought, “If Allah is with me and He wants me to win, then I’ll win.” So I had no doubt. I shot with confidence — the rest was with Allah.
That’s an incredible mindset. In this journey of yours, who’s been the most instrumental?
That would be my coach, Alam Sir (Md. Nur-e-Alam). At home, my family didn’t quite understand at first. But as I improved, they began to support me. Everyone around me helped, my friends, my coaches, they all played a role in getting me where I am now.
In terms of archery, what do we need to do to improve as a nation?
There’s no substitute for playing more international tournaments. The more we compete at that level, the more we’ll grow. You get to measure yourself against top-tier opponents, see where you stand, and identify areas for improvement. It also builds match experience and confidence. It’s absolutely vital for our progress.
You said before that you grew up watching Ruman Shana. How do you feel knowing that the next generation might grow up watching you?
All of us involved in archery grew up watching Ruman bhai. What he did for the country, winning gold on the international stage, inspired me. I told myself, “If he can do it, why can’t I?” Now I’ve won at the continental level. But next, I want to challenge myself and win at the global level.
What would you say to the next generation, even though you’re still quite young yourself?
Since childhood, I’ve always loved sports. Any outdoor game, I’d be playing it. I think it’s the same for others, too. There’s no alternative to playing games if you want to succeed.
Especially for students admitted to BKSP, you must practise hard. When I was young, people would say, “He loves to play,” and it was true. I was always trying to improve, always pushing myself.
Did you face any challenges early on?
Not really. When I was in Class 4, a brother from our area told my parents that I had talent and should get into BKSP. I told my parents I wanted to play, but they didn’t understand at first. My father wanted me to focus on studies. But I told my mother, and she convinced my father. They said, “Whatever happens, happens. We’ll figure it out later.” That’s how I got into BKSP.
How far do you think Bangladesh can go in archery?
There are a few archers in the country now. Sometimes one of us does well, sometimes not. Ruman bhai and Rubel bhai have left the scene, so it’ll take time to build the consistency we want.
But the ones currently active, if we practise well and play regularly, I believe we’ll do well. After 2019, we haven’t had many standout results. We need more matches to build confidence, skill, and team chemistry.
What’s next for Abdur Rahman Alif?
From childhood, I always wanted to do something no one in our country had done before, whether it’s the World Cup, World Championship, or the Olympics. The Olympics is a long-term goal, of course, and it’s still three years away.
But I want to take each step seriously, do everything properly, and, with the grace of the Almighty, I hope to achieve my dream.