Siddikur Rahman, the first professional golfer of Bangladesh to win the Brunei Open title, was felicitated at a grand reception at a city hotel on Wednesday.
Grameenphone, the leading cellular operator of the country and the sponsor of Siddik since 2003, along with the Bangladesh Golf Federation hosted the reception where the chief of army staff General M Abdul Mubeen was the chief guest.
Oddvar Hesjedal, chief executive officer of Grameenphone, also attended the function as special guest. Bangladesh Air Force chief Air Marshal SM Ziaur Rahman and Bangladesh Navy chief Vice Admiral Zahir Uddin Ahmed were also present, among others, on the occasion.
‘I salute the mother of Siddik, who has given birth to such a worthy son of the soil,’ said General Mubeen, who is also the president of the Bangladesh Olympic Association.
‘I am sure our golf is on the right course and will definitely reach the desired goal,’ said Mubeen, who promised to try to host an Asian Circuit Golf Tournament in Bangladesh in December as desired by Siddik.
Siddik, who was over the moon seeing such a gala reception, expressed his gratitude to all who helped him grow up as a professional golf player.
‘It was like a dream for me winning the Brunei tournament. I am grateful to all the people who helped me in achieving my dream,’ Siddik told the audience amid huge clapping.
‘After winning the trophy, all I remembered was my childhood memories. I never thought I would go this far,’ said an overjoyed Siddik, who started as a ball boy at the Kurmitola Golf Club before becoming Bangladesh’s first professional golfer.
Siddik, who won amateur golf tournament in every South Asian country, was confident of bringing more laurels for Bangladesh from golf course.
His immediate goal is to do well in the $2.8 million Omega Masters Tournament in Switzerland, his first competition on European PGA Tour, for which he will leave home today.
‘I am confident of doing well in Switzerland as well. The only thing that worries me is the unfamiliar weather condition there.
‘The tournament will start in the morning with temperatures around six to eight degrees Celsius and it will rise to 13 to 14 degrees and that’s really a problem for me,’ said Siddik.
