Billal Hossain continued his sheer dominance in the domestic arena by securing another gold medal yesterday but the veteran wrestler also introduced two of his disciples – Abdur Rashid and Md Rubel Ali – who bagged their first gold medal in national competition.
Rashid won gold in the 92kg+ weight category while Rubel clinched the top spot in the 62+kg category in the concluding day of the Walton 38th National Senior Men’s and 8th National Women’s Wrestling Championship at the Sheikh Russel Roller Skating Complex in Paltan.
Billal also continued his unbeaten run in the national meet since 2004 by knocking out his final-round opponent Liton Bishwas of Ansar in less than 25 seconds to win gold in the 97+kg weight category.
Rashid and Rubel also came from Border Guard Bangladesh and both mentioned Billal as their coaching mentor from whom they not only took their first wrestling lesson but is still giving them advice and that helped them earn their first gold medal in the national championships.
“We are currently 22 wrestlers at BGB and 10 of them are participating in this tournament. He (Billal) is the mentor for many of us. It is from his guidance and inspiration that took me here to win my first gold medal,” said the 29-year-old Rashid who won his final round game in 15 seconds.
The 25-year-old Rubel said, “I learned wrestling from him (Billal). He guided me during my journey from playing in the inter-region event to the main BGB team in the last two years.” Both Rashid and Rubel aim to earn the country a medal in the upcoming SA Games.
Billal said about the two new gold medalists: “Both have good fitness and technical aspects. They have big potential. It’s their first win in this tournament and I hope they will get better in future.”
BGB’s four gold medals came from these three wrestlers but it was not BGB but Bangladesh Ansar who emerged as champions in the men’s event by winning five gold medals
Ansar also finished on top of the women’s category by winning eight gold medals while Bangladesh Army’s Tithi Roy, who won the gold in 60 Kg event, was adjudged as the best female wrestler.