Kulsum Akther Mone: Bangladesh’s 17-year-old rising star after historic podium

ATHLETE SPOTLIGHT is presented by WIAWIS.

At just 17, Bangladesh’s Most Kulsum Akther Mone delivered one of the most remarkable breakthroughs at the 2025 Asian Archery Championships, claiming the compound women’s bronze medal – the nation’s first-ever individual podium in the category.

Her composure, confidence and precise shooting in Dhaka’s final end have already marked her as one of the most exciting young talents in Asian archery.

Mone’s run to bronze was defined by her ability to reset under pressure. After a narrow semifinal loss to India’s Prithika Pradeep – a match she felt she was “about to win” – she entered the bronze medal match determined to reclaim her rhythm.

“During the final match I was a little nervous,” she admitted. “But after the first end, I felt so confident. I told myself to stay calm, breathe and trust myself.”

The turning point came in the last end against Chinese Taipei’s Chen Si-yu.

“My opponent was leading by one point,” Mone recalled. “I really needed a strong 10, and I hit it. After that first shot of the last end, I thought, ‘If I can shoot the next two as 10s, I can win this.’ And fortunately, I did.”

She edged ahead by a single point to secure Bangladesh’s historic medal.

Unlike many archers who begin at a young age, Mone took up archery only in 2023, aged 15. Before that, she was a sports-loving teenager who tried a bit of everything, from roller skating to school games.

One day, her sports teacher suggested she take the admission test for Bangladesh’s Sports Institute. She passed, and her life changed almost instantly.

“I first got into archery when I was 15,” she said. “My coaches and my family supported me greatly, and that inspired me to take it seriously.”

Mone’s rise since then has been fast and fearless. She credits her training environment and coaches for building her belief in herself and shaping her mindset.

“My journey has had many hard days – tough training, pressure, losing matches, bad scores,” she said. “But my coaches always stayed positive. They never told me I couldn’t do it. They always said, ‘You can do it, you can win, you can shoot a 10.’ That kept me motivated.”

That positive reinforcement helped build the calm mental routine she now relies on in competition.

“I prepare mentally by breathing slowly, staying positive, and reminding myself that I’ve done this many times before,” she explained. “I try to focus only on the next arrow and nothing else.”

Mone’s bronze was not the only success for Bangladesh in the compound division at this year’s continental championships. It followed the silver medal won by the mixed team of Bonna Akter and Himu Bachhar, a strong sign of the nation’s growing strength in the discipline.

But Mone’s individual triumph carries special weight.

“This medal is very important for Bangladesh archery, and especially for compound archers,” she said. “It shows that we can compete with strong countries and win.”

She hopes her breakthrough will inspire young athletes across the country.

“I am so young, and if I can do this, then many archers in Bangladesh can also do it,” she said.

Looking ahead, Mone wants her story to serve as a message of belief and persistence.

“My message is to keep practising, stay patient and believe in yourself. Dreams come true when you work hard and never give up. Don’t be afraid of top archers – just be confident in what you can do and do it.”

With her historic medal and composed mindset, Kulsum Akther Mone has shown how dedication can shape a young athlete’s path, hinting at the bright future ahead.