A big question mark arose regarding the first gold medal of the eighth Bangladesh Games in the men’s tennis doubles final won by Amal Roy and Henry Prithul Mandol on Friday.
Only the Engineering Recreation Club, represented by Amal, will receive recognition in the official medal tally as Amal is better ranked than Prithul.Prithul of Jafar Imam Tennis Club, Rajshahi will receive the gold medal but his club’s name will not be positioned in the Games’ medal tally which disheartened him.
‘We have decided to merge from two different clubs. The federation (Bangladesh Tennis Federation) made the arrangements accordingly and we have won the gold medal with a joint effort. Then why will only the club of the highest ranked player be on the medals tally? I think my club should also be put up on the medals tally,’ said a discontented Prithul.
Mostaq Ahmed, general secretary of the Jafar Imam Tennis Complex, Rajshahi also reacted angrily after hearing about the injustice.
‘It is very unfortunate. We will speak with the general secretary of the Bangladesh Tennis Federation regarding this matter. Why will only a single club receive recognition while the other will be deprived?’ inquired Mostak.
‘If this sort of injustice prevails then there will be no motivation for us to produce players from the grass-root level,’ added Mostak.
Officials of the Games’ technical committee were also concerned about the matter but they said they had nothing to do in this regard.
‘We are partly to be blamed because we should not have allowed the clubs to participate in the Games as they are not the affiliated bodies of the Bangladesh Olympic Association. Since the Games was organised after a long time, this sort of unfortunate incident took place which will be avoided in the future,’ said Wing Commander Rafiqul Islam, member secretary of the Games’ technical committee.
It could not be ascertained whether the Bangladesh Tennis Federation officials were concerned about the issue as the general secretary, Abdur Rahman was not available for comment despite repeated calls which went unanswered.
GAMES ON SUNDAY
Cricket: Khulna v Barisal, Dhaka v Rangpur
Football: Rangpur v Naogaon, Jhenaidah v Noakhali
Hockey: Bangladesh Army v Jaipurhat, Bangladesh Navy v Dhaka, BKSP v Satkhira, Faridpur v Rajshahi
Table Tennis: Men’s & Women’s doubles final
Fencing, Taekwondo, Handball semi-finals
Volleyball: Men – Bangladesh Army v Titas Gas, Satkhira v Bangladesh Police, Bangladesh Biman v Chittagong University, Bangladesh Navy v Chittagong; Women – Chittagong v Dhaka University, Rajshahi v Khulna, Ansar VDP v Kishoreganj, BJMC v Pabna
Shooting: 10m official practice Air Pistol (Women), 50m range official practice prone (Men), 25m range official practice standard pistol, equipment control.
Swimming: Water Polo – 1st round, Basketball, Tennis, Chess,
Kabaddi: Group stage, Bodybuilding, Squash
-With New Age input
