Archer Shyamoly Roy became the second Bangladeshi athlete after shooter Abdullah Hel Baki to earn a wild card for the forthcoming Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, confirmed Bangladesh Archery Federation officials on Thursday. The 23-year-old Shyamoly is the current national champion in the women’s individual recurve bow event. ‘We have requested for two wild cards for the Rio Games but International Olympic Committee, International Archery Federation and Games Organising Committee provided us only one wild card for Shyamoly,’ said federation general secretary Kazi Razib Uddin Ahmed Chapal.
‘They considered her performance in the last year’s World Championship in Copenhagen and I think she deserves this opportunity.’
Chapal, who is also the treasurer of Bangladesh Olympic Association, is still hopeful of getting another wild card as three more archers Emdadul Haque Milon, Ruman Sana and Tamimul Islam are preparing alongside Shyamoly in the training camp at the Ahsanullah Master Stadium in Tongi.
Shyamoly, who hails from Narail, expressed her joy after hearing the news of getting wild card.
‘I can’t believe myself,’ said a surprised Shyamoly, who made her debut in the Bangladesh national team just two years ago.
‘I never thought that I will participate in the Olympic Games within just two years of my debut in the national team.
‘I’m really grateful to the federation for giving me the opportunity to participate at different international events in the last two years.’
Shyamoly, who became 32nd in the last year’s World Archery Championship in Denmark, impressed her Indian coach Nishith Das with her determination.
‘She [Shyamoly] is always confident, which is her positive thing,’ said Nishith, who has been guiding the four national players for the last 16 months.
‘She can perform well at any stage if she can keep her cool till the last shot.
‘Now my target is to prepare her with the hope that she can at least qualify in the quarter-final round in the Olympics. I thing she has the ability to do that.’
-With New Age input
