3rd ISSF Int’l Solidarity Archery begins Saturday

The 3rd Islamic Solidarity Sports Federation (ISSF) International Solidarity World Ranking Archery Championships under the auspices of Bangladesh Archery Federation begins on February 23 at the Shaheed Ahsanullah Master Stadium in Tongi.   

Some 148 archers from 26 countries across the world are expected to compete in the four-day tournament, being organised for the 3rd time with ISSF cooperation, for 10 gold medals at stake -- five each for the men’s and women’s -- through ranking and elimination rounds.  

The events are men’s team, women’s team, men’s singles, women’s singles and mixed doubles of the Recurve and Compound divisions.

President of Bangladesh Archery Federation Lt Gen (retd) M Moinul Islam disclosed the details of the tournament at a press conference at the conference room of the National Sports Council NSC) here on Wednesday.

Its General Secretary Kazi Razibuddin Ahmed Chapal also spoke on the occasion where tournament secretary Rashiduzzaman Serniabat and convener of media committee Rafiqul Islam Tipu were present.

Addressing the press conference, Chapal said Bangladesh secured six and five gold medals in the last two editions respectively, but this time they are looking for stronger and world class archers in the meet to develop the standard of local players, rather than winning more gold medals.  

Twenty-six countries, which already confirmed their participation in the meet, are Albania, Azerbaijan, Chand, Cameroon, Germany, India, Iran, Iraq, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Saudi Arabia, Malay, Morocco, Nepal, Pakistan, Sudan, Syria, Thailand, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Chinese Taipei, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Uganda, Algeria and hosts Bangladesh.

The organisers are expecting more participating countries by the deadline that ends on Saturday morning.

Hosts Bangladesh will field a biggest team of 16 archers.

Source: unb