Sagor to bear Bangladesh flag
Swimmer Mahfizur Rahman Sagor will do the honour of carrying Bangladesh's flag in the ceremonial march-past during the opening ceremony of 2012 London Olympic Games on July 27 in place of shooter Sharmin Akhter Ranta.
The Bangladesh Olympic Association (BOA) recently revised the decision in an effort to make sure Ratna prepares peacefully for her 10m air rifle event, which will take place a day after the opening ceremony.
Ratna, who carried Bangladesh's flag in Beijing's magnificent Bird's Nest four year's ago, is better among the five athletes competing in five disciplines of the world's biggest sporting spectacle. But she is far below the qualifying mark and will be competing in the event as a wild-card entrant like four other athletes from the country, which has never won any Olympic medal.
Bangladesh's participation in Olympic has so far been academic with selected athletes get the opportunity to rub shoulders with the bests in the world. And this time it will be no exception.
Sagor, a SAFF silver medallist, is Bangladesh's fastest swimmer and has scored his best 24.53sec in 50m freestyle two year's ago. He will take part in a 50m freestyle heat in London fully aware of the fact that an improvement on his timing would be an achievement in itself even if he finishes last in the heat.
Mohan Khan will represent Bangladesh in the track and field event. The country's fastest man can consider himself extremely lucky if he gets a chance of running alongside world's fastest man Usain Bolt or his Jamaican rival Asafa Powell in one of the heats.
Emdadul Haq Milon, a gold winner in Asian Youth championship two year's ago, will be Bangladesh's first archer in an Olympic meet. He will however get a lifetime opportunity to walk along the lush green of Lord's, a premier cricket venue which will be used for archery competitions during the Olympics.
Bangladesh will also represent a gymnast in Syque Caesar in London, which is hosting the summer Olympics for a second time.
A 15-member contingent that also contains 10 officials is expected to leave Dhaka for London on July 22.
Comments