Bangladesh’s Rio Olympic mission starts today as shooter Abdullah Hel Baki will be the first athlete to fly for Rio de Janeiro along with his Danish coach Klavs Christensen.
Chef de mission of Bangladesh contingent, lieutenant general ATM Zahirul Alam will also leave here for Rio today alongside director general of BOA and attaché of the contingent Fakruddin Haider.
Baki, the Commonwealth Games silver medallist, will fly for Rio one week before his competition as the 10-metre air rifle event is scheduled on August 8.
The shooter however said it would be very difficult for him to cope with the time difference between Bangladesh and Brazil.
‘Due to time difference, it will be difficult for me to cope with the condition because when the competition will start it will be day in Brazil and night in Bangladesh,’ he said.
‘However, I will try to adjust with the Brazil condition before the event and I’m already preparing myself to overcome the obstacle.’
Baki said that his only target will be to produce his best in the games.
‘I will go there [Brazil] with only target of putting my best timing behind. If I could reproduce my form in the preparation camp, I hope, can make the final eight.’
Despite producing his best score 624.8 points in the ISSF World Cup in Germany in May, Baki had to finish in 28th position.
‘In Germany I lost a great chance to make the final eight but due to losing concentration in the last round, I was ruled out from the race.’
The premier Bangladeshi shooter also underwent some psychological training sessions recently to boost his mental strength.
‘Some psychological sessions helped me to keep my mind calm which is very important before taking part in such a big event,’ he said.
‘I visited Rio months ago to participate in the ISSF World Cup which will also help me to prepare for the meet.’
Meanwhile, Bangladesh Shooting Sports Federation on Saturday announced cash bonus for Baki as the federation will award Tk one crore for gold medal, Tk 50 lakh for silver medal, Tk 25 lakh for bronze medal and Tk 10 lakh for qualifying in the final round.
The other contingent of the Bangladesh Olympics team – swimmers Mahfizur Rahman Sagor and Sonia Akter Tumpa will fly for Rio on Monday alongside two late inclusions sprinters Mezbahuddin Ahmed and Shirin Akter.
Meanwhile, golfer Siddikur Rahman, who became the country’s first ever athlete to directly being qualify for Olympics, will fly on August 2 alongside archer Shamoly Roy.
Six coach-cum-officials from five disciplines will accompany the athletes.
A total of 19-member Bangladesh contingent will take part in the opening ceremony on August 5.
-With New Age input
