Bangladesh emerge champions in 3rd South Asian Archery

Hosts Bangladesh emerged champions in the Blazer DB BKSP 3rd South Asian Archery Championship securing six gold, five silver and one bronze medals in the 10-event meet that concluded at BKSP in Savar on Tuesday, reports UNB.

Youthful India finished runners-up collecting four gold, five silver and three bronze medals while Sri Lanka became distant 3rd with three bronze medals.

State Minister for Youth and Sports Dr Biren Sikder distributed the prizes at the closing ceremony as the chief guest.

BKSP Director General Brigadier General M Shamsur Rahman was a special guest at the function also attended by General Secretary of Bangladesh Archery Federation and Managing Director of meet's sponsor Blazer BD Ltd Kazi Rajibuddin Ahmed Chapal.

Ibrahim Sheikh Rezwan clinched the day's first gold medal for Bangladesh in the Recurve men's singles upsetting his compatriot Rumman Sana by 7-1 sets points in the final while Roxana Akhter of Bangladesh won the Compound women's singles gold beating her teammate Susmita Bonik by 140-133 score.

In the Recurve men's team event, Rumman Sana pairing with Roxsana Akhter clinched the event's gold defeating their Indian rivals by 5-1 sets points while another Bangladeshi pair Ashim Kumar Das and Bonnya Akhter lifted the Compound Mixed team title beating their Indian rivals by 153-148 score.

In the Compound men's team event, Ashim Kumar Das, Abul Kashem Mamum and Mohammad Ashiquzzaman of Bangladesh won the gold medal beating their Indian rivals by 226-225 score in a keenly contested final while Ibrahim Sheikh Rezwan, Rumman Sana and Mohammad Tamimul Islam of Bangladesh clinched Recurve men's team title outplaying their Indian rivals by 6-2 set points.

The rest four gold medals of the 10-event meet went to the Indian archers.

In the first South Asian Archery Championship held in BKSP (Bangladesh) in 2006, Bangladesh secured only one silver and one bronze medal while Bangladesh finished 4th in the 2nd South Asian Archery Championship held in Jamshedpur, India in 2008, bagging one silver and seven bronze medals.