Veteran shooter Sabrina Sultana added another gold medal to her crown before finally retiring from competitive shooting, bringing an end to her 28-year long, illustrious career on Thursday.
A pale of gloom descended on the National Shooting Complex as Sabrina bade bye to her fellow shooters and officials soon after winning gold in her favourite 50-metre air-rifle three positions.
Sabrina did her best to control emotions but all others present at the sprawling complex, including her husband and fellow shooters, were unable to do so. They all broke down in tears as Sabrina formally announced her retirement at a press conference after the end of her event.
Sabrina had won a gold medal the previous day in 50-metre prone and did not let passion get the better of her when she began the 50-metre three positions, an event that she made her won for two decades.
She shot 558 points to finish as the winner ahead of Sharmin Shilpa and Suraiya Akhter who won silver and bronze respectively with a score of 550 and 532.
‘I took the right decision at the right time and realised after making the announcement that how many people love me,’ said Sabrina in a choked voice at her press conference.
A long-time friendship turned into a formal relationship when Sabrina and fellow shooter Saiful Alam Rinky tied the knot in 2003 and Sabrina attributed her long career to her husband, himself one of the finest shooters Bangladesh has ever produced.
‘I am really lucky that I got married to such a nice person (Rinky), who provided me inspiration to continue my shooting career,’ said Sabrina, who was also grateful to pistol shooter Atiqur Rahman, who took shooting into prominence as a game by winning a gold medal in the 1991 Commonwealth Games.
Rinky, who won three gold medals at the 1993 SA Games, believed she still had some shooting left in her.
‘She has played enough. Naturally it is time now to retire. But I personally feel that Sabrina should have continued with her career for a few more days,’ said a tearful Rinky.
‘There is a huge gap between Sabrina and her closest competitor in the 50m rifle three-position category. She should have at least stayed on until the next national championship to narrow the gap and help usher in the next challenger.
‘Even then we respect her decision,’ he said.
Sabrina’s vibrant career started from 1985 when she was only 11.
Sabrina rose to prominence when she won the Commonwealth shooting gold in 1997. In the same year she also won 4 gold medals in the second SAF Shooting Championships.
Sabrina made the 50m rifle three-position event her own since 1994. In the last edition of the Bangladesh Games she earned three gold medals also.
Asif Hosssain Khan, another gold medal winner in the Commonwealth Games, claimed that
using Sabrina’s experience and expertise in the
federation is vital for the growth of shooting in the country.
‘I have known her since 1999. She is one of the legendary shooters of the country and I believe her experience will immensely help the young and upcoming shooters of the country,’ said Asif.
One of Sabrina’s longest well-wishers, Atiqur emotionally stressed that it is essential for the federation to utilise her knowhow in order to groom the forthcoming shooters of the country.
South Asian Games gold-winning shooter Sharmin Akter Ratna was shocked at Sabrina’s announcement.
‘I was very shocked when I heard the decision of Sabrina Apu. It is difficult to accept that we will not have her as a competitor anymore,’ said a teary-eyed Ratna.
-With New Age input
