Int'l solidarity archery from Saturday

The third edition of the ISSF International Solidarity World Ranking Archery Championship will get underway at the Shaheed Ahsan Ullah Master Stadium in Gazipur on Saturday.

More than 118 competitors from 25 countries, including 16 archers from hosts Bangladesh -- eight male and eight female -- will take part in the four-day meet.

They will vie for 30 medals -- 10 gold, 10 silver and 10 bronze -- in men's and women's singles, team and mixed events in both recurve and compound divisions.

Ruman Sana, Imdadul Haque Milon, Hakim Ahmed Rubel and Tamimul Islam will compete in men's recurve division while Sheikh Sajib, Asheem Kumar Das, Abul Kashem Mamun and Milon Molla will compete in men's compound division.

Beauty Roy, Nasrin Akter, Dia Siddiquee and Iti Khatun will compete in women's compound division while Shusmita Banik, Bonna Akter, Shyamoli Roy and Tamanna Parvin will vie in women's compound division.

The number of participating countries has increased significantly this time. The first edition hosted 14 countries while the second edition featured 17 countries.

Bangladesh Archery Federation (BAF) secretary Kazi Razibuddin Ahmed Chapal disclosed the details at a press conference at the National Sports Council auditorium where BAF president Moinul Islam was also present.