The first batch of the four-member Bangladesh contingent leaves here for Brazil tonight to take part in the Olympic Games scheduled to begin from August 5 to 21 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
It was not surprisingly as the contingent included one Athlete shooter Abdullah Hel Baki, a silver medalist of the Commonwealth Games, his Danish coach Klavs Christensen, chef de mission of Bangladesh contingent Lt General (rtd) ATM Zahirul Alam and attaché of the contingent and director general of the BOA Fakruddin Haider.
As it has been a pattern since their first participation in 1984, Bangladesh has never won a medal from the Olympics. But as usual, the athletes who participates in a pre -press conference promises to improve their own personal best timings as they know it very well that their timings are far below the international standards.
Bangladesh Olympics Association (BOA) Secretary General Syed Shahed Reza was brave enough to admit that the athletes’ participation in Olympics, in a sense as a ‘token participation’. Taking to BSS today, He said, “You see International standard and timing compared to our Athletes own timing have no comparison. They are very superior and we take our team only to gain experience and improve our personal results.”
Lone shooter Baki yesterday in a press briefing said, “I am going there with only hopes to put my best timing. If I can transfer my present form to the competition, I hope to make it to the eight-man final.”
Baki showed glimpse of his improvement under the new Danish coach Christensen as he scored 624.8 score in the ISSF World Cup in Germany last May. As the first batch leaves tonight, Baki will have almost seven days to prepare himself and adapt to the local conditions in Rio before his cherished
event of 10m air rifle, beginning on August 8.
Abdullah Baki said, “In Germany, I ruined a great chance to reach the final due to a lapse of concentration at a crucial juncture. However, now I had some psychological sessions which will I think help me to keep calm during the big events.”
Bangladesh Shooting Federation played their part to inspire their athlete as they announced, If Baki reaches the final round he will rewarded with Taka lacs while more cash-awards will start pouring in if he gets his name among the medal winners.
The other members of the Bangladesh contingent – swimmers Mahfizur Rahman Sagor and Sonia Akter Tumpa, sprinters Mezbahuddin Ahmed and Shirin Akter are scheduled to fly out on Monday night while golfer Siddikur Rahman and archer Shaymoly Roy will leave on Tuesday.
