Bangladesh archers secured their first-ever gold medal in the men’s compound team event of the Asia Cup-World Ranking Tournament Stage-1, when they beat Vietnam in the final held in Bangkok, Thailand, on Friday.

The Bangladesh team, comprising Himu Bachhar, Aishwarzo Rahman, and Nawaz Ahmed Rakib defeated the Vietnam team of Cong Duc Dang, Ngoc Tu Pham and Xuan Huong Tran by 231-225 points.

Bangladesh took the first set by scoring 57-55 points and maintained their lead by winning the second set 58-56, before they lost the third 57-58 points.

German coach Martin Frederick’s team rallied to win the final set 59-56, giving them an overall lead of six points over Vietnam.

Earlier, on Wednesday, Bangladesh beat the Bhutan team—Tandin Dorji, Tshetum Gaytshey, and Kezang Norbu with a score of 232-228 in the semi-final.

Vietnam reached the final after a 234-233 victory over the Indian team—Rajat Chauhan, Uday Kamboj, Rishabh Yadav in the semi-final.

Bangladesh got bye in the pre-quarter before beating Malaysian team - Juwaidi Mazuki, Syafiq Ariffin, Aiman Syafiq Tariki by 30-27 points in a tie breaker after 231-231 in the main stage of the quarter-final.

Vietnam also got bye in the pre-quarter stage and defeated the Thailand team—Nawayut Lertruangsilp, Natthaphob Nimlek, Peerawat Rattanapongkiat by 231-230 in the quarter-final.

Bangladesh archery team’s assistant coach, Noor E Alam, informed the media that this was Bangladesh’s first-ever gold medal in the compound team event beyond the South Asian region.

Previously, Bangladesh had won silver medals at the Asia Cup held in South Korea in 2021 and Iraq in 2022.

Himu participated in both teams that won silver in South Korea and Iraq, while Rakib was a member of the silver-winning team in Iraq.