‘Reaching quarterfinals is the target’

A 10-member Bangladesh archery team, including two coaches and an official, left for Shanghai, China yesterday for the Archery World Cup (Stage-2) with the aim of ‘trying to reach the quarterfinals stage while gaining exposure’ in different events.

The Bangladesh team is comprised of five recurve archers and two compound archers -- five men and two women -- who will compete in seven events during the seven-day competition, which begins tomorrow.

Around 300 archers from about 40 countries will compete in this World Cup which will offer a few quota places for next year’s Tokyo Olympics. However, securing quota positions is too stiff a challenge for the Bangladeshi archers, considering their current status and scores at international competitions.

The team’s head coach Frederick Martin feels he would be very happy if his charges reach the quarterfinal stages of some events, adding that will bank on the recurve archers more than the compound ones.

“We need experience and we need to be visible in the international events. This is the second time we are participating in a World Cup after the Berlin World Cup last year. I think reaching the quarterfinals here will be a nice goal for us,” the German coach said during a pre-departure press briefing at the Bangladesh Olympic Association yesterday.

In reference to his performance in the last World Cup, the coach said that he hopes the country’s best recurve archer, Ruman Sana, will eclipse his previous performance.

“We had trials over the last three days where Ruman [Sana] and Beauty [Roy] recorded their best scores. I would be happy if Ruman, who finished 17th in Berlin, can finish within the top 15 in Shanghai. The mixed compound team finished eighth last time and I hope they can repeat that feat this time too,” Frederick said.

However, Frederick added that their main aim for this event will be to earn exposure for future competitions, such as the World Championships in Netherlands in June, the South Asian Games in December and the Asian Championships next year.

The press briefing was attended, among others, by Bangladesh Archery Federation’s vice-president Anisur Rahman, local coach Ziaul Haque, team manager Kamrul Islam and sponsors City Group’s senior deputy brand manager Rubaiyat Ahmed.