Know your Bangladeshi Olympians

Bangladesh has had a terrible relation with the Olympics since their first appearance in 1984, and an upward trajectory is hardly predicted in this year’s mega event which is going to be unveiled hours later. Bangladesh also holds the infamous record of being the most populous country in the world never to win an Olympic medal.

One of the most densely populated countries in the world, Bangladesh’s best shot at a medal came in London 2012 when the US-born Syque Caesar was a dark horse in the artistic gymnastics after winning a silver medal in the South Asian Games. He was the first Bangladeshi to win an international title in gymnastics. Eventually he failed in the big stage, taking 27th place on parallel bars (14.766), 29th place in floor exercise (14.666) and 50th place at the horizontal bar (13.700). This time seven Bangladesh players will fight in five different disciplines out of the 28, trying their luck once again to put their name in the medal tally along with the 82 other countries who have never won a medal. This is the largest contingent in Bangladesh’s history.

Let’s take a look at the participants who are going to represent Bangladesh in Rio 2016.

Siddikur Rahman

Golf
Men’s individual stroke play
August 11-14, Thursday-Sunday
Born: November 20, 1984
Place of birth: Madaripur
Club: Kurmitola Golf Club
Asian Tour titles (2)
2010 Brunei Open, 2013 Indian Open
Other titles (18)
2011 Bangladesh Masters, 2011 Masters Invitational, 2010 Bangladesh Open, 2009 Bangalore Open, 2008 Haryana Open, 2008 PGTI Players Championship, five wins in Bangladesh, two each in Pakistan, Nepal and Sri Lanka and one in India
Maiden appearance in the Olympics

Road to Rio
Siddikur (world no. 308) qualified directly among the top 60 eligible players for the men’s singles based on the IGF World Rankings as of July 11, 2016. Siddikur is the first Bangladeshi to qualify for any Olympic Games in his own right, rather than relying on wild cards, tripartite commission entries or universiality places.

What He Said
It feels really great. I think this is the biggest achievement of my life to qualify for the Olympics through direct qualification process. My family and I are very excited after hearing the news. I didn’t feel the excitement or any kind of interest even two-three months ago. I never thought I would make it to the Olympics but after the Mauritius Open, everyone came up to me and said, “You might go to the Olympics”. Then, I became serious and determined to make it happen.

What Others Said
I cannot confidently say that he will win a medal. With that said, I think he will experience one of his most memorable golfing days in the Olympics.
– Siddikur’s life coach Ali Khan

Shyamoli Roy

Archery
Women’s individual
August 5, Friday, 10pm
Born: April 5, 1994
Place of birth: Narail
Agency: Bangladesh Army
National titles
6 medals (2 golds, 2 silvers, 2 bronzes)
International titles
1 bronze medal
Best achievement
33rd Asian Archery in 2015
Gold medal in the recurve bow individual event
Best score: 618 points, 2015 Asian Archery, Thailand
Maiden appearance in the Olympics

Road to Rio
Bangladesh received an invitation from the Tripartite Commission to send a female archer to the Olympics. Archer Shyamoli, the wildcard entry, will fight in the women’s individual recurve event. Her track record is far behind in the international level. There is hardly any hope she can make it to the final.

What She Said
It’s like a dream come true that I’m going to participate in the Olympic Games, given that it has been only two years since my debut for the national side. I’m really grateful to the federation for giving me the opportunity to participate in different international events in the last two years.

What Others Said
Shyamoli is very good as an archer. But there is no one in Bangladesh who has the capability to bring medal in archery. There is still long long way to go. She has self confidence and I hope she will perform better. I hope she will improve her ranking. 64 best archers around the world participate in the Olympics so if she fight and beat some of them it will also be a big achievement for her.
– Emdadul Haque Milon, Archer, 2012 London Olympics

Abdullah Hel Baki

Shooting
Men’s 10m Air Rifle
August 8, Monday, 6pm
Born: August 1, 1989
Place of birth: Gazipur
Agency: Bangladesh Navy
National titles
National champion in 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2015
22 medals (11 golds, 11 silvers)
International titles
Silver medal in 2014 Commonwealth Games
Gold medal in 2010 SA Games team event
12 medals (1 gold, 9 silvers, 2 bronzes)
Best score: 624.8 points
Maiden appearance in the Olympics

Road to Rio
Bangladesh received an invitation from the Tripartite Commission to send a men’s 10m air rifle shooter to the Olympics. Shooting has always been the most successful discipline for Bangladesh at world stage. This time Abdullah Hel Baki will aim high with his favourite weapon once again.

What He Said
It will be hard for me to cope with the conditions over there due to time difference. Because, when the competition gets underway there, it will be night-time in Bangladesh. I will try my best to adjust with the conditions before the event and I’m already preparing myself.

What Others Said
His prospects are good. I think he can clinch a good position in the overall standings. It’s tough to say whether he can claim a medal but a respectable rank is quite achievable.
– Asif Hossain Khan, Shooter, Bangladesh flag bearer in 2004 Olympics

Mahfizur Rahman Sagor 

Swimming
Men’s 50m freestyle (heat)
August 11, Thursday, 10pm
Born: May 15, 1993
Place of birth: Pabna
Agency: Bangladesh Navy
Event: 50m freestyle
National titles
National records: 7
71 medals (50 golds, 11 silvers, 10 bronzes)
International titles
2 silvers in 2010 SA Games, 7 bronzes in 2016 SA Games
19 medals (6 golds, 5 silvers, 8 bronzes)
Best timing: 23.93 seconds, 2016 Thai Open
Second appearance in the Olympics after London 2012

Road to Rio
Bangladesh received a Universality invitation from FINA to send two to the Olympics. This is the second Olympics for Sagor, the best swimmer in the country, who stood 39th among 58 contestants clocking 24.68s in the 50m freestyle event in London 2012.

What He Said
I recorded my personal best in the National Championship in Gopalganj in 2014. Then I finished seventh in the London Olympics heats. This time I will give my best and my target will be to reach the semi-finals.

What Others Said
Sagor was in Thailand in the last one year. He improved a lot there and also recorded his best timing. He also won gold in a tournament there. Of course he will do better in Olympics.
– Rubel Rana, Swimmer, Bangladesh flag bearer in 2008 Olympics

Sonia Akter Tumpa

Swimming
Women’s 50m freestyle
August 12, Friday, 10pm
Born: July 15, 1997
Place of birth: Jhenaidah
Agency: Bangladesh Navy
National titles
National records: 6
95 medals (67 golds, 23 silvers, 5 bronzes)
International titles
2 bronzes in 2010 SA Games, 1 bronze in 2016 SA Games
7 medals (1 gold, 2 silvers, 4 bronzes)
Best timing: 30.86s in 50m freestyle, 2015 Kazan World Championship
Maiden appearance in the Olympics

Road to Rio
Wildcard entry Tumpa will participate in the 50m freestyle. Tumpa, who has her career best timing on 30.85s, is far away comparing the 50m freestyle records in Olympic.

What Others Said
After SA Games in India, Sonia has been in the national training camp regularly. A very good foreign coach has been training them in the camp. I hope Sonia will put up a better display to set a better timing than before.
– Rubel Rana, Swimmer, Bangladesh flag bearer in 2008 Olympics

Mezbah Ahmed

Athletics
Men’s 100m freestyle (heat)
August 13, Saturday, 6:30pm
Born: March 11, 1995
Place of birth: Bagerhat
Agency: Bangladesh Navy
National titles
23 medals (18 golds, 3 silvers, 2 bronzes)
International titles
No medals
Best timing: 10.72s in 100m
Maiden appearance in the Olympics

Road to Rio
Bangladesh received universality slots from IAAF to send two athletes (one male and one female) to the Olympics. Bangladesh’s fastest man Mezbah, whose best timing is 10.43s by manual stopwatch, will run in the heat of the shortest event in the Games along with world record (9.58s) holder Usain Bolt.

What He Said
I have been a Brazil fan since my childhood. Now I will be going there to take part in the biggest sporting event. It is going to be a very special moment in my life.

What Others Said
If you ask me if there’s any hope for medal, there is absolutely no hope. The most important thing is what they can learn from watching best athletes of the world closely and how they can utilise them following their experience they will get after meeting them. They can also get inspiration from other athletes and learn from their training system. They don’t have enough training facilities here. They need long-term training, modern equipments and good nutrition. None is enough here.
– BKSP coach Abdullah Hel Kafi

Shirin Akter

Athletics
Women’s 100m (heat)
August 12, Friday, 9pm
Born: October 12, 1994
Place of birth: Satkhira
Agency: Bangladesh Navy
Event: 100m sprint
National titles
33 medals (27 golds, 6 silvers)
International titles
4 medals (4 bronzes)
Best timing: 11.99s in 2016 SA Games heats
Maiden appearance in the Olympics

Road to Rio
Wildcard Entry: Shirin Akter will participate in the 100m sprint event in Rio.

What She Said
The Olympics is a dream for any athlete. When I was admitted at BKSP in 2007, I started dreaming of the Olympics and reaching the peak. I’m very happy. I don’t know how to express it. I have been thinking as to how I will go there, how I will adapt with the weather, how can I represent my country over there. I’m very excited.

What Others Said
Shirin’s participation in the Olympics is a huge incident in women’s sports in Bangladesh. It is a great inspiration for the young female athletes of Bangladesh for the future. I heard some of them saying, “We can also go to the Olympics like Shirin apu.”
-BKSP coach Abdullah Hel Kafi

Source: Dhaka Tribune