Sixteen-year-old Pavel Kuznetsov made a golden debut in Sulaymaniyah, winning three titles as Kazakhstan enjoyed a successful campaign at Stage II of the 2026 Asia Cup, concluding 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 final, Kuznetsov prevailed 145-143, underlining the strength of the country’s emerging young compound squad.
The contest 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 three-point 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 Thoriqul Islam but held their nerve to win 230-224 and deny the defending champions another title.
