The first batch of Bangladesh contingent comprising 160 members left Dhaka for Assam capital Guwahati on Wednesday to participate in the eight-nation 12th South Asian Games to be held in the North East Indian cities of Guwahati and Shillong from February 5-16Chef De Mission of Bangladesh Contingent and BOA Deputy Secretary General Ashiqur Rahman Miku is leading the Bangladesh contingent in the biggest sports extravaganza of the region keeping eyes on Shooting, Archery, Boxing, Weightlifting and Taekwondo medals.In the day’s first batch, Bangladesh contingent includes Archery, Badminton, Cycling, Swimming, Table Tennis, Volleyball Weightlifting and Men’s Football team.The 2nd batch of Bangladesh contingent with 158 members, includes Athletics, Hockey, Wushu, Kho Kho, Women’s Football, Tennis, Squash and Shooting, will leave here for India Thursday while the 3rd batch with remaining athletes, except Wrestling, will fly on February 8.A three-member Bangladesh team, including Deputy Chef De Mission Ahmedur Rahman Bablu, Team’s Coordinator Group Captain M Rafiqul Islam and BOA DGM Finance M Sayeed left the capital on Monday as advanced party. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to inaugurate the 12-day meet on February 5 at 30,000-capacity Indira Ghandi Athletics Stadium in Guwahati. Chief Minister of Meghalaya will be the chief guest in another opening ceremony for the athletes of Shillong on February 6. Some 4300 athletes and officials from eight South Asian countries-Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka-are expected to participate in 23 disciplines of sports for 228 gold medals.The 12-day SA Games, the first of its kind in the North East India and the 3rd time in India after Kolkata and Chennai, will be held in 17 venues–seven in Shillong and remaining in Guwahati.Twenty-three disciplines of sports are: Athletics, Archery, Boxing, Badminton, Basketball, Judo, Volleyball, Swimming, Table Tennis, Triathlon, Taekwondo, Hockey, Weightlifting, Wrestling, Wushu, Football, Squash, Shooting, Kho Kho, Kabaddi, Handball, Cycling and Tennis.The 521-member Bangladesh contingent including 223 men’s, 147 women’s, 60 coaches, 39 managers and other team and contingent officials will compete in all the disciplines of sports except Triathlon.Bangladesh, which bagged 18 gold, 24 silver, 55 bronze medals in the last SA Games in 2010, expect medals in five disciplines of sports -Archery, Shooting, Weight lifting, Boxing and Taekwondo, especially in the men’s 10-metre air rifles shootingLast SA Games gold winning lifter Hamidul Islam will carry the Bangladesh flag in the opening ceremony in Guwahati on February 5 while last SA Games gold winning boxer Abdur Rahim will carry the Bangladesh flag in Shillong on February 6.
