Bangladesh’s Sakil Ahmed (C), who won gold in the men’s 50-metre free pistol shooting in the 12th SA Games, poses with his team-mates in Guwahati, India on Wednesday.
Shakil Ahmed came from nowhere to win a gold medal for Bangladesh in men’s pistol shooting, raising the country’s number of gold medal to four in the 12th SA Games on Wednesday.
Shakil scored 187.6 points in 50-metre pistol event at the Kahilipara Shooting Range in Guwahati to win the gold, the first gold for Bangladesh in a pistol event since 1993.
Atiqur Rahman and Abdus Sattar Nini won a gold medal in 10-metre air pistol in 1990 Commonwealth Games in Auckland and Atiq repeated the glory in Dhaka SAF Games in 1993.
Shakil, who was making his maiden appearance in an international meet at senior level, ended the long 23-year wait putting Indian Om Prakash behind in the shoot-off after qualifying in the final round as seventh.
Shakil scored 527 in the primary round but put a stunning performance in the shoot off to became the first male athlete for Bangladesh to win gold in the meet.
Shakil lost his word just after grabbing the gold which was beyond his expectation.
‘I just lost my word after winning the gold,’ he told reporters in Guwahati. ‘I never thought that I could win the gold medal. It was true that I tried hard to give my best and kept my concentration till the last shot so that I found the success.’
Shakil was more satisfied to beat an Indian opponent who took part in the competition with a vast experiences and long-term preparation.
‘Indian shooters take proper preparation before competing in an international meet and they have got all facilities from their federation,’ said Shakil.
‘To beat such a strong opponent you have to give more concentration and I am thankful to god because I never lost my concentration.’
Shakil expressed his gratitude to Bangladesh Army for their continuous support before the Games.
‘Without support from Bangladesh Army it would not be possible for me to win a gold medal.’
Shakil was also a member of bronze medal winning Bangladesh team along with Mohendra Singha and Anowar Hossain.
Bangladesh earned a total of 1575 points to be placed third while team India claimed the gold medal with 1622 points and Pakistan finished second with 1583 points.
Bangladesh women’s 10-metre air rifle team failed to retain the gold medal and was left satisfied with bronze medal.
Swimmers earn 17 medals Bangladeshi swimmers earned a total of 17 medals in 38 swimming events which ended on Wednesday.
On the last day of six-day long swimming competition, Bangladesh won four bronze medals.
In the 4 ×100metre medley, both men’s and women’s team bagged bronze medals while Mahfizur Rahman Sagar and Jewel Ahmed claimed bronzes in100metre freestyle and 200metre individual medley events respectively.
Five bronzes in wushu Wushu players failed to retain their two gold medals that they earned in the last edition at home and could earn only five bronze medals.
Dull day in athletics Bangladesh won only one bronze medal from track and field on Wednesday thanks to women’s team in 4×100metre sprint.
Last edition’s bronze medalist Al Amin failed to repeat his performance in the long jump as he finished fifth after covering 7.24metre distance.
Huge defeat in hockey Bangladesh national hockey side suffered a huge 6-0 defeat against Pakistan in their last league match.
Bangladesh remained fourth in the medals tally with 54 medals including four gold, 10 silver and 40 bronze medals.
Source: New Age
