Traditionally the mother of all disciplines, the track and field, usually starts in the last days of any Games but the upcoming 8th Bangladesh Games will break the ritual and athletics will instead be held from the beginning of the Games.
To make matters worse, some star athletes are suffering from different injuries to make the track and field discipline lose some of its colours.
Former fastest woman of the nation Shamsunnahar Chumki is low on confidence as she is preparing herself for the Games after recovering from a back injury. Chumki, who won the 200m sprint in the last edition of the Bangladesh Games in 2002, has set her sights on the 100m sprint in the forthcoming Games.
‘After recovering from injury, my fitness level is now up to the mark but after a long break I am suffering from a lack of confidence,’ said Chumki.
‘It is not possible to predict anything about the 100m event but I will try my level best to achieve the most prestigious medal,’ added the winner of the 100m sprint in the 2009 summer meet.
National record-holding high jumper Shajib Hossain had been suffering from jaundice for a long time before starting his preparation for the Games.
‘I will try my best but I do not know how good I can perform,’ said Shajib, who made national record of 2.11m in high jum at the 2010 national meet.
‘I cannot predict anything about the result but I am looking forward to it,’ added Shajib, who also jumped 2.10m in the 2010 South Asian Games but could only manage a fourth place.
Mohan Khan, the fastest man of the nation, is also suffering from a lack of confidence after his recent recovery from a muscle injury. Mohan won 100m gold in last year’s summer meet with a timing of 11.22 seconds.
‘I am getting all the facilities from my team and I will try to give everything in order to achieve success. I have to sustain the national achievements which I achieved earlier,’ added the star of Bangladesh Army.
Meanwhile, Shumita Rani has been dominating the 100m hurdles for the best part of a decade, with the exception of the 2009 national championship. However, now she is feeling petrified due to the ankle injury she picked up recently.
‘My ankle has swollen and I am receiving treatment from a specialist. There is still some doubt regarding my participation. If I don’t recover in time, I might not take part,’ said Shumita, who claimed silver in the 2010 SA Games in Dhaka after a photo finish was needed to confirm her second-place finish.
The track and field events are scheduled to be held from April 22-25.
-with New Age input
