Bangladesh aiming for glory on and off the field 

Bangladesh is setting its sights on a double triumph, both in medals and leadership, as it is set to host the 24th Asian Archery Championship from 8 to 14 November in Dhaka.

The nation's archery journey may be relatively short, yet its progress on the international stage has been striking, producing Olympians like Roman Sana and Sagor Islam.

Despite growing achievements, federation officials are treading carefully ahead of the high-profile continental event."Of course, we are hopeful for medals, but we won't make any bold declarations," said Kazi Rajib Uddin Ahmed Chapol, the founding general secretary of the Bangladesh Archery Federation.

"It's a sport that demands focus. Our preparation is solid, and we expect good results. We won silver last time and hope for something better this year."

Over 200 archers from 30 Asian nations are expected to compete, including powerhouse teams from Korea, China, and Iran, as well as participants from conflict-torn Palestine and Syria. India which skipped recent cricket and women's U-20 football tours to Bangladesh has confirmed participation.

The Teer Group, a long-time sponsor of Bangladeshi archery since 2017, remains the title sponsor of the event.
The organising committee said, "We'll close registration tomorrow. Palestinian and Syrian archers are receiving special assistance from us. Many Olympians, both men and women, will take part."

While the federation has shown administrative maturity, financial struggles continue to haunt local archers. Star archer Roman Sana recently moved to the United States with his wife, fellow archer Diya Siddique, seeking stability. "Most of our players are employed through different organisations and receive some income from there," explained federation general secretary Tanvir Ahmed.

Venue complications have also emerged. Though the National Sports Council allotted the National Stadium six months ago, the medal rounds on 13 and 14 November will now shift to the Army Stadium due to a football fixture between Bangladesh and Nepal.
Alongside the championship, Dhaka will host the Asian Archery Congress on 8 November, where Chapol is contesting the presidency against incumbent Yoo-sun Chung, CEO of Hyundai Motor Group.

A confident Chapol said, "I've worked for archery across Asia for years and maintain good relations with many nations. With everyone's support, Insha'Allah, something positive will happen."