TWENTY-THREE young athletes from eight disciplines are preparing themselves for the second Asian Youth Games from August 16-24 in Nanjing, China.
The Bangladeshi athletes will participate in athletics, swimming, shooting, weightlifting, golf, badminton, basketball and taekwondo at the forthcoming games.
With 15 days left before the games start, the BOA is not very hopeful of much success at the Youth Asian Games due to its contingent’s lack of preparation.
The Bangladesh Olympic Association had asked for financial assistance from the government for the preparation and participation in the Games, but the National Sports Council and the Ministry of Youth and Sports have yet to make any commitments so the BOA has decided to take the athletes to China at its own expense.
The BOA provided financial assistance to the related federations to begin their preparation camps from June 15, but most of the federations delayed the start of their camps.
BOA officials believe their youth shooters represent the best chance to win a medal at the games, while the Bangladesh Weightlifting Federation is hopeful for a podium finish after their youth lifters’ performances at the Asian Junior Weightlifting Championship in Qatar.
Hasanul Banna, Reasatul Islam, Sharmin Akter Jr. and Sharmin Sultana will represent Bangladesh in the 10-metre air rifle event. They have been preparing at the BKSP under local coach Ashbab Ali Foyez since June 2.
Foyez would be satisfied if his shooters advanced to the final round by doing well in the preliminary round.
‘If they do their best we have to chance to reach the final round,’ Foyez said, adding that the young shooters took inspiration from renowned 10m air rifle shooter Syeda Sadia Sultana, who performed well at the 2009 Asian Youth Games in Singapore.
Weightlifters Maria Akhter Simanto and Zohura Akhter Reshma have continued to train since their participation in the Bangladesh Games earlier this year, which coach Shahria Sultana Suchi believes will help their chances.
‘Our lifters are in a good shape because they have been practicing for a long time. If luck favours us, maybe we will win a medal,’ Suchi said. She noted that her students had finished fourth at the Asian Junior Championships, so it was possible for them to medal at the Asian Youth Games.
Wing commander Rafiqul Islam, member secretary of the BOA training and development committee, said that golfers Afnan Mahmud Chowdhury and Liza Akhter are trying hard to win a medal at the games.
‘They are trying their best to succeed, but golf is an unpredictable sport where nothing is impossible,’ Rafiqul said on Wednesday.
In the swimming pool, Asif Reza will take part in the 50m freestyle event, while Nazma Khatun will participate in the 50m freestyle and butterfly events. Their coach Abdul Hamid is hopeful that his swimmers will post personal bests at the games.
‘We will go China on August 14 and our swimmers will participate on August 21 and 22. If they get the chance to practice there, then I hope they will beat their best times,’ said Hamid.
Sprinters Ashik Kumar Halder and Irin Sultana will participate in the 100m and 200m events after a delayed training camp that only got started after the BOA sent notice to the Bangladesh Athletics Federation.
The Bangladesh Badminton Federation expressed faith in youngster Ayman Ibn Jaman, who won the Bangladesh Games singles category gold medal, beating senior players in the process.
‘Ayman returned from Malaysia where he was preparing for the Asian Youth Games and taking part in a tournament. We are hopeful that he will perform well in the forthcoming games,’ said Zubaidur Rahman Rana, general secretary of the BBF.
Sazid Istiaq, Shakib Hos
sain, Abdul Momin and Mubtasin Quader will represent Bangladesh in the 3-on-3 basketball event.
Following a request from the Olympic Council of Asia, the BOA added taekwondo players to its contingent, but the Bangladesh Taekwondo Federation has yet to finalise. The federation’s general secretary Mahmudul Islam Rana said that they had initially selected two players, Mehedi and Maysha, but that the latter had since backed out.
-With New Age input
