Just like many other sportsmen around the world, Bangladesh golfer Dulal Hossain’s tale is also another classical rags-to-riches story. Born in poverty and to a father who worked at a canteen at Kurmitola Golf Club, Dhaka, Dulal did not have anything to look forward to during his childhood, other than maybe following in his father’s footsteps one day.
Dulal’s father, of course, did not want his son to tread the same path as himself. When Dulal was nine years old, his father asked a caddy master if his son could work as one of the ball-boys. The caddy master agreed and thus began his long journey from hardship to prominence. Dulal battled it out as a ball-boy for three years before being promoted to a caddy at the age of 12. And it was as a caddie did he play golf for the very first time.
However, even though he started playing golf at 12, it was not with an expensive, picturesque golf-club but a mere tree-branch. Dulal persevered for three years with countless pieces of wood before coming to the attention of a Kurmitola member. Then and there, Dulal knew he had to make his luck and opportunity count.
There are no short-cuts to success and he knew it all too well. He had no reservation toiling hard behind the scenes and it took him five long years to feature in his first major tournament – the 2010 South Asian Games in Dhaka. The rest, as they say, is history as Dulal struck gold in his very first try. Two years later in 2012, Dulal turned professional but still, very few had heard of his name. This was due to the fact that another Bangladesh golfer Siddikur Rahman was going great guns.
The 25-year old Dulal however, did not have to wait long to announce his grand arrival. As fate would have it, the Bashundhara Bangladesh Open, the country’s first ever Asian Tour event, witnessed the emergence of Dulal.
The first round though was nothing special. Dulal carded two-over-par 73, including two double bogeys, three bogeys and five birdies. The second round yesterday changed all that. Dulal struck an incredible eight-under-par 63 to elevate himself to fifth position in the standings. He smashed a magnificent eagle on the 14th hole and followed it up with seven birdies against just a single bogey on the opening hole.
Finally, Dulal was able to emerge out of Siddikur’s shadow. The latter might be languishing at joint 43rd, but the former did not disappoint the home crowd as established golfers like Thaworn Wiratchant, Barry Henson and Casey O’Stoole was left to rue in Dulal’s wake.
Whatever happens in the rest of the $300,000 event, Dulal will no doubt be a proud man knowing that his journey has just begun.