Bangladesh await history as Diya-Rubel fight for gold

History awaits for Bangladesh as the mixed recurve team of Diya Siddique and Mohammad Hakim Ahmed Rubel will battle for Bangladesh’s first-ever gold medal title in Asian Archery Championships.

Diya and Hakim will take on South Korea’s Su Jung Ryoo and Seungyun Lee today in the final of the recurve mixed event.

Bangladesh clinched their first-ever medal on Wednesday, as they managed to win the bronze medal in both the men’s and women’s team recurve event.

Diya and Rubel have already won one medal in the tournament as they were part of the men’s and women’s teams in the recurve event.

But on Friday, they will have a shot at history as they will be fighting for the country’s first gold. Even if they lose against favourites South Korea, they will be Bangladesh’s first-ever silver medal in the competition’s history.

Ahead of the match, Diya said that she was prepared mentally and that coach Martin Frederick’s inspiration has made them confident.

“I am prepared mentally. We will try our best. The coach’s inspiration has made us even more confident. I believe that if we can give our best, we can beat Korea,” the young archer said.

She added, “You have to be always prepared mentally, you have to stay calm. The biggest thing is you can’t be nervous. Normally, everyone is nervous ahead of the big matches.

“Me and Rubel bhai both trust each other. If we can hold on to that trust and keep up our coordination and teamwork, then maybe something good will happen.”

Rubel, who has been a revelation in this tournament stealing the spotlight from Bangladesh’s premier archer Ruman Shana, said that he was not letting any pressure get to his head.

“I am not letting any pressure get to my head. It’s not like we are facing South Korea for the first time. We know they are great players. But we will try to give our best,” the archer from Kurigram said.

He also added that he and Diya will be playing the match like a practice between themselves.

“Every game needs teamwork. We need to have proper communication and combination. Whenever Diya and I shoot an arrow, we talk and say that we are not playing against the opponent, but between us. We will play the match like that, like a practice match,” Rubel said.

Diya had previously won the silver medal in stage two of the Switzerland World Cup in May while teaming up with Ruman. The young archer, who narrowly missed out on a win in the final round of the Tokyo Olympics, might be hoping for a gold medal this time around.