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16-year-old Kuznetsov’s golden treble headlines Kazakhstan’s campaign at Asia Cup

29 October 2026

Sulaymaniyah (Iraq)

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Sixteen-year-old Pavel Kuznetsov made a golden debut in Sulaymaniyah, winning three titles as Kazakhstan enjoyed a successful campaign at the second stage of the 2026 Asia Cup, which concluded at the Sulaymaniyah Sport Club on Thursday.

Kuznetsov topped the compound men’s individual event, helped Kazakhstan defeat defending champions Bangladesh in the men’s team final and teamed up with Elmira Raissova to win the compound mixed team title.

The individual final saw Kuznetsov face compatriot Nikita Ivlev, another 16-year-old making his Asia Cup debut. In an all-Kazakh contest, Kuznetsov prevailed 145-143, underlining the strength of the country’s emerging young compound squad.

The match remained close through the opening stages, with both archers scoring 29 in the first end. Kuznetsov then found a perfect 30 to move two points ahead. Ivlev responded with 29 in the third end to narrow the gap, but another 30 from Kuznetsov in the fourth restored his advantage. Ivlev finished with 29, while Kuznetsov’s 28 was enough to seal the title.

Bangladesh’s top seed Nawaz Ahmed Rakib took bronze, defeating compatriot Md Thoriqul Islam 145-139.

Kuznetsov and Ivlev were back together for the compound men’s team final, joining 17-year-old Islam Serikuly to form a young Kazakhstan trio. They faced a more experienced Bangladesh line-up of Himu Bachhar, Rakib and Islam, but held their nerve to win 230-224 and deny the defending champions another title.

Kuznetsov completed his treble in the compound mixed team event, partnering with Elmira Raissova to a 153-142 victory over Bangladesh’s Rakib and Bonna Akter.

Akter made amends for the mixed team defeat by winning the compound women’s individual title, giving Bangladesh its only individual gold in Sulaymaniyah. The 30-year-old edged Kazakhstan’s 15-year-old debutant Milana Burleva 145-143 to secure her first international individual gold medal.

She added another title in the compound women’s team event, where Bangladesh beat Kazakhstan 230-220 to take gold. Sri Lanka edged Iraq 219-218 to claim bronze.

Bangladesh also secured a podium finish in the individual event through Most Kulsum Akther Mone, who defeated Kazakhstan’s 16-year-old Ayazhan Zhaksylyk 143-139 in the bronze medal match.

The recurve events also produced new champions.

USA’s Nicholas D’Amour, the only non-Asian archer in the competition, claimed the men’s title with a 6-2 victory over Iran’s top seed, Mohammadhossein Golshani Asl.

Iran’s Mobina Fallah won the recurve women’s title, defeating Bangladesh’s Saima Salah Uddin 6-4.

Bangladesh also made its mark in the recurve team events, winning the men’s title for the first time at the Asia Cup with a 6-2 victory over Kazakhstan, winner of the first stage earlier this year. Iraq delighted the home crowd by taking bronze, beating Uzbekistan 5-3.

The recurve women’s team final went down to a shoot-off, where Azerbaijan edged defending champions Kazakhstan to claim gold after the teams finished level at the end of regulation.

With the second stage concluded, the Asia Cup circuit now moves to Hangzhou in November for the third and final stage of the 2026 season.