Golfer Siddikur Rahman, the first ever Bangladeshi to directly qualify for the Olympic Games, will begin his mission today as the golf returns to the world’s biggest sports meet for the first time in 112 years.
The first round of the competition at the Olympic Golf Course in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil will start at 4:30pm Bangladesh Standard Time. When several top golfers around the world, including Rory McIlroy and Jordan Spieth stayed away from the competition concerning Zika virus, the two-times Asian Tour winner Siddik showed no hesitation to compete.
Bangladesh hold the ignominious record of being the country of highest population on earth without an Olympic medal and Siddik said it would be greatest achievement in his life if he can abolish that ignominy.
‘Previously, no Bangladeshi has qualified for the Olympics although there have been athletes from my country receiving wild cards to participate. I’m really inspired. If I can win a medal, that would be the best thing to happen in my life,’ Siddik was quoted as saying in Asian Tour website.
Bangladeshi swimmer Mahfizur Rahman Sagar will also take part in the 50-metre freestyle event today.
Sagar, who is going to represent Bangladesh in Olympic for the second successive time, were drawn in the heat number 5, scheduled at 10:10pm Bangladesh standard time at the Olympic Aquatics Stadium.
Sagar will compete against nine other competitors including Kosovo’s Lum Zhaveli, Mongolia’s Dulguun Batsaikhan, Libyan Ahmed Attellesey, Fiji’s Meli Malani, Montenegrin Maskim Inic, Senegalese Abdoul Khadre Niane, Ghanaian Abeku Gyekye Jackson.
Archer Shyamoli Roy was supposed to face Mexican Gabriela Bayardo in the Round of 64 of women’s individual archery on Wednesday late night at 12:39 am Bangladesh Standard Time.
Shyamoli became 53rd in the ranking round, which was held on August 5, after scoring 600 points while Mexican counterpart Bayardo scored 648 to be placed 12th.
-With New Age input
