Bangladesh will formally open their campaign in the Asian Games that got underway on Friday in Guangzhou, China with five disciplines – shooting, weightlifting, chess, wushu and billiard.
Already eliminated in football, Bangladesh athletes will also compete in 10 other disciplines in archery, athletics, boxing, cricket, football (already eliminated), golf, hockey, kabaddi, karate, swimming and taekwondo despite a grim hope for winning any medal.
Bangladesh sent a mega contingent comprising 235 athletes and officials despite having no clear prospect of winning a medal from any event. Bangladesh had only won a bronze and silver in boxing and one bronze in kabaddi since their debut in 1986.
The officials of the Bangladesh Olympic Association, however, are dreaming of turning the table by winning medals in both men’s and women’s cricket, which was included for the first time in the Games regarded as the Olympics of Asia. The BOA officials also see some prospects in men’s and women’s kabaddi and golf.
Though there are plenty at stake for Bangladesh on the opening day, all eyes will be on shooting when
Commonwealth gold medallist Asif Hossain Khan and Commonwealth Shooting gold medallist Sharimin Akther Ratna compete in the 10m air rifle.
SA Games gold medallist Sharmin Akhter will also get an idea about her form after returning to the national fold for a long time. Tripti Datta is the third shooter for Bangladesh in the same event.
Abdullah Hel Baki and Taufiq Shahriar Khan will team up with Asif for team gold while Nadimul Islam will shoot in 50m pistol event.
Weightlifter Mollah Sabira, who finished second from the bottom in the just concluded Commonwealth Games in India, will compete in the 48kg category while Mohammad Abu Bakkar takes part in wushu.
Tayef Quader and Aga Navil Ibna Ekram will participate in the preliminary round of billiard’s 8-ball pool singles while GM Niaz Murshed, Minhazuddin Ahmed, Sharmin Akter, Sharmin Sultana Shirin lock horn in individual chess event.
