Sporting extravaganzas like the Bangladesh Games serves as a stage for the performers to exhibit the talent and skill acquired through countless of hours of training. This ongoing edition of the Games comes 11 years, 11 months and one day after the last – and almost 7,000 athletes in 31 disciplines – have been on show. The Dhaka Tribune proudly presents 10 who have managed to stand out…
Jahidul Islam (Taekwondo)
Jahidul Islam, the youngest contestant in his arena, showed that age does not matter in sports by taking gold in the men’s Taekwondo – 54kg event at the Bangladesh Games. The 17-year old from Gazipur won all his matches en route to his maiden national level gold medal. The youngster has been a precious find, and has a long and promising career ahead of him. He is expected to compete in two tournaments in Malaysia this June – the Asian Junior Championship and the Islamic Solidarity Games – and it will be the lad’s first international level test.
Zakia Sultana (Athletics)
When it is women’s sprinting in Bangladesh, everyone expected the track to be dominated by long established runners like Nazmun Nahar Beauty and Shamsun Nahar Chumki. Zakia Sultana had other ideas. The HSC examinee announced her arrival as a star, winning the 200-metre race in 25.00 seconds and claiming gold in the 400-metres to boot.
Papia Akter (Swimming)
A produce of BKSP, Papia Akter stunned all in her national debut by breaking the national record for the women’s 50m butterfly event. Papia clocked 00:31.96, beating the previous record of 00:32.18.
Romana Akhter (Swimming)
Romana Akhter, a 16 year old girl from BKSP, caused a sensation as she not only won two gold medals, but broke national records in doing so, on the very first day of the Games. Beating out seasoned performers such as Sonia Akter Tumpa and Lucky Akter Jui, Romana won the women’s 200-meter butterfly with a time of 02:44.15 (previous record - 02:46.98) and the 400-meter individual medley with a time of 05:55.20 (previous record - 05:56.02).
Mesbah Ahmed (Athelete)
BKSP’s young athlete Mesbah Ahmed became the new sprint king when he clocked 10.75 to finish first in the men’s 100-meter race. The 17-year old from Bagerhat beat his teammate and 200m winner Abu Raihan by 0.25 seconds and perhaps more surprisingly, surpassed two-time defending champion and Olympian, Mohan Khan, who had to be content with the bronze medal. Mesbah will not be looking to the the upcoming South Asian Games for his next chance to dazzle.
Sharmin Akter (Shooting)
The nervous looking girl from BKSP did not win any gold medals, but her presence in the competition was strongly felt. Sharmin displayed flair and grace to be in the lead at the half-way point of the 10-metre air rifle event, before her inexperience let her down in the second half. She finished third. “I lost my rhythm when I looked around after the tenth round and saw the big names around me and started thinking whom I am going to beat,” said Sharmin who just finished her SSC exam. Watch out for this youngster – she can only get better.
Roman Sana (Archery)
Bangladesh Ansar participant Roman Sana stunned ace archers Ebmdadul Haque Milon and Sheikh Sajib to win the gold medal in the individual recurve bow event. Young Sujan, who had to be content with a silver medal last year after losing to Sajib in the national championships, had been out of the sport for nearly as he was occupied with his SSC examination. The victory - his first gold in a four-year career – was the perfect comeback.
Rabbi Hasan (Shooting)
The BKSP shooter probably created the biggest upset of Bangladesh Games when he came from nowhere to clinch the gold medal in the men’s 10-metre air rifle event. With the likes of Asif Hossain Khan and Abdullah Hel Baki in the field, few would have backed the youthful Rabbi. A student of Asif at BKSP, the winner was overwhelmed with what happened. “I always dreamt of performing on the same platform with Asif sir, but never even thought of beating him,” he said.
Rohit Sarker (Football)
Five goals in four matches is an impressive statistic, but even that does not do full justice to the talented BKSP striker’s performance at the Games. Rohit was the inspiration of the gold medal winning team, and the fluency he showed on the field suggests that the national team might be his next destination. Rohit scored both goals in the 2-1 final win against Barisal, and from his left wing position, had a hand in many of his team’s goals in the earlier part of the competition.
Iman Ibne Zaman (Badminton)
Aiman Ibne Zaman became the talking point of the badminton event after the innocuous 15-year old from Bangladesh Railway came from behind to stun former champion Mohammad Javed of Narayanganj in three sets to win the men’s singles title. The Grade XI student from Manarat International School lost the first set 14-21, but bounced back to take the next two 21-12 and 21-13, to complete a shocking upset over the double-his-age, former champion.
