A few national weightlifters started practice limitedly with backdated apparatus at the weightlifting gymnasium in Paltan after around five months of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Back-to-back South Asian Games gold-medalist Mabia Akter Shimanta informed that she began light training two weeks ago along with two other female weightlifters but struggling to deal with broken plates.
“Many equipment are broken for quite a long time. Some plates are split into pieces and stitched with irons for mere use. There are six such plates. It increased the weight than normal,” Mabia told Dhaka Tribune.
Weightlifting federation vice-president Mahiuddin Ahmed denied the claim.
He explained that the broken plates came from Gazipur for repairing work.
He also said they have international standard equipment for weightlifters, including four new sets from the game's governing body in Asia before the 2019 SAG.
A local mechanic was found in front of the gymnasium Wednesday repairing weightlifting plates in presence of former national weightlifters and coach Khaliluzzaman.
He said these plates are from Gazipur and most of the equipment sent to different districts are in similar condition.
Those apparatuses are often brought to Dhaka for repair.
Mabia has been practising along with national teammate Zohra Khatun Nisha and former national colleague Johra Reshma under the guidance of National Sports Council coach Faruk Ahmed Sarkar.
She said it would take them five months to get back to regular form.
“The time we lost due to pandemic can’t be brought back. It may take rest of the year to get ready,” said Mabia.
Other 2019 SAG gold-medalist Ziarul Haque however, began practice in full swing in the middle of July with the 19-man weightlifting team of Bangladesh Army at Army Stadium in Banani.
He said they too need three more months before getting ready for competitive action.
Whereas Army team are following two sessions each day, Mabia and Co are training only once a day.
