The first batch of the 521-member Bangladesh contingent for the eight-nation 12th South Asian Games, the biggest sports extravaganza of the region, will fly for the Indian city of Guwahati on Wednesday morning by a chartered flight.
The 12th version of South Asian Games will be held for the first time in the North East Indian cities of Guwahati and Shillong from February 5-16 with neighbouring Bangladesh keeping eyes on Shooting, Archery, Boxing, Weightlifting and Taekwondo medals.
In the first batch on Wednesday, 160 members of the Bangladesh contingent, including Archery, Badminton, Cycling, Swimming, Table Tennis, Volleyball Weightlifting and Men’s Football team, will fly for Guwahati.
Chef De Mission of Bangladesh Contingent and BOA Deputy Secretary General Ashiqur Rahman Miku, Deputy Chef De Mission Quamrunnahar Dana and Women’s team Manger Shamima Sattar Mimo will also accompany the team on Wednesday.
Earlier on Monday, a three-member 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 as advanced party.
Another batch of 158 members, including 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.
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.
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 shooting
Last 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.
Bangladesh team started their training for the 12th SA Games from August 1 last year under local and foreign coaches.
The “Tokhor”, a baby rhino in sharp, naughty, sporty and modern named as games “Mascot, while “Ei Prithibi Ekhon Krirangon, Krira Hol Shantir Prangon” sung by the world famous musician late Dr Bhupen Hazarika selected as game theme song.
