'Lack of experience costs us at Olympics'

Sagor Islam, an 18-year-old Bangladeshi archer, was the only athlete from Bangladesh to qualify directly for the Paris Olympics. Although he did not win a medal there, he aims to use the experience of competing on the Olympic stage to perform better in the future. In an exclusive interview with The Business Standard, Sagor shared his thoughts on the present and future of archery in Bangladesh.

The Olympics is the biggest stage, and you had the chance to compete directly there. How was the experience of playing in the Olympics and staying in the Olympic Village?

Sagor: Absolutely, the Olympics is the biggest stage, and getting the opportunity to compete there is a huge achievement for me. It has also been an incredible experience. I've seen the world's best athletes up close and learned a lot from them. This will help me move forward.

The person you lost to has previously won a silver medal in the Olympics. Where do you think the difference lies between players like them and you? Why do you think Bangladesh is struggling on the global stage?

Sagor: The main difference is in experience. The person I played against has a 30-year career in archery. I'm not even 30 years old yet. Besides, the quality of practice facilities also matters. However, if we get more time, we will gradually improve.

What do you think about the future of archery in Bangladesh?

Sagor: Look, so far, three athletes from Bangladesh have directly qualified to compete in the Olympics. Among them, two, including myself, are archers. I believe that with the progress we are making, we will be able to qualify a full archery team for the 2028 Olympics. Our archers are working very hard, and we will see the results of this in the future, Inshallah.

Compared to other sports, archery is not that popular in Bangladesh. The financial support is also less compared to other sports. What's your opinion on this?

Sagor: If archery received the same investment as cricket or football, we could achieve great things. There's a lot of potential for us to make Bangladesh proud through this sport. With a little more attention, we could bring significant achievements to the country in the future.

During the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics, we noticed that there were five athletes from Bangladesh, but quite a few officials went. Moreover, the officials were at the front, while the athletes were in the back. Was there any reaction among you regarding this?

Sagor: Actually, I didn't realise this at the time because I wasn't at the back. I was the flag bearer for Bangladesh, so I was at the front. Everyone was nervous at that moment, so we didn't have time to notice who was standing where. I only noticed it later when I saw the pictures. But I don't know if the others were asked to stay at the back; they would know better.

How much support are you getting from the Archery Federation?

Sagor: The Federation is very helpful. They try to ensure participation in almost every tournament. It may not always be possible, but there's no lack of effort from their side.

Bangladesh's new sports advisor is a young person. Do you have any message for him

Sagor: It's great that such a change has taken place. Additionally, young people are likely to better understand the matters of sports, which is a plus point. I hope that attention will be given not only to archery but also to other sports. This is how our sports sector will progress further.