The Asian Archery Championship set for November 8-14 in Dhaka will be moved from the National Stadium to accommodate upcoming fixtures of the Bangladesh national football team. As per Sports Adviser Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan, the team will play a FIFA friendly against Afghanistan on November 13 and an Asian Cup Qualifier against India on November 18. Bhuiyan emphasized that football takes precedence at the moment, necessitating the relocation of the archery championship.
During an exhibition football match between advisers and diplomats at the National Stadium, Bhuiyan informed reporters of the plans to potentially host the archery championship at either the Army Stadium or Kamalapur Stadium due to the football matches against India and Afghanistan. He expressed regret that the archery event cannot be held at the National Stadium, reiterating that football is the current priority.
The upcoming Asian Archery Championship anticipates the participation of over 400 athletes and officials from approximately 30 Asian nations. However, the proposed venue change has raised concerns within the Bangladesh Archery Federation (BAF). General Secretary Tanvir Ahmed cautioned that relocating the event could lead to a significant image crisis for Bangladesh archery.
Ahmed highlighted that despite no official directive from the National Sports Council (NSC), the ground was allocated to them a year ago. He emphasized that preparations were already underway and pointed out compliance issues and the presence of technical delegates who have inspected the venue. With hundreds of athletes and officials expected from numerous countries, Ahmed stressed the importance of upholding the prestige and image of the event.
Kazi Razibuddin Ahmed Chapal, a former general secretary of BAF and an Asian Archery Federation member, proposed a potential compromise to prevent penalties. He suggested holding the championships up to the semi-finals at the current venue and relocating for the finals by 6:00 pm on November 12 to adhere to World Archery guidelines and avoid potential sanctions.