Bangladesh has little hopes for a medal in the Asian Games, scheduled for November 12–27, except in the disciplines of cricket and golf but the country is sending players for 17 disciplines, the highest-ever in a meet outside the sub-continent.
A 218-member contingent of 152 players and 66 officials is going to attend the 16th Asian Games to be held in Guangzhou in China.
Bangladesh will complete in archery, swimming, wushu, cricket, golf, football, shooting, boxing, gymnastics, billiard, hockey, kabaddi, chess, athletics, taekwondo, weightlifting and karate. The event will feature 42 disciplines.
Bangladesh, which usually does good in shooting, archery and kabaddi, has this time no hopes for winning a medal even in the disciplines in the event, joined in by 45 Asian countries.
Ishtiaque Ahmed Bablu, the general secretary of the Bangladesh Shooting Federation, said, ‘China, Japan and Korea will field all leading shooters in the Asiad, many of whom have won Olympic and World Championship medals. We hope our shooters will do their best to earn the Olympic quota score.’
Kazi Rajivuddin Ahmed Chapal, the general secretary of the Bangladesh Archery Federation, also said, ‘Although our archers have improved in five years they have not yet reached the level needed to win a medal in the Asiad. I hope they will gain experience to move forward.’
Munir Hossain, the general secretary of the Bangladesh Kabaddi Federation, said he was shaky about his hopes for any medal. ‘Bangladesh has won a bronze in the Asian Games kabaddi in Doha in 2006. This time we will try hard to retain it. But it will be a tough job.’
Golfers are, however, hoping for at least a bronze when other disciplines show no hopes. ‘Winning the gold is not what we aim at. But we believe if we can put in our best, we will at least finish winning a bronze in the team event,’ said the golf team’s manager Anis. He said the golfers were working hard and were focused on their target.
The T20 cricket will be played in the Asian Games for the first time this year and Bangladesh has announced a strong men’s team, led by Md Ashraful. The women’s team has also a number of experienced cricketers. With India pulling out of the meet, Bangladesh will fight for the title with Pakistan and Sri Lanka in both the events.
The Bangladesh Shooting Federation president, Major General Mohammad Ashabuddin, has been named chef de mission to lead the Bangladesh contingent. Abdul Awal Majnu of the Bangladesh Rowing Federation is deputy chef de mission.
