Scholarships again for weightlifters
The country's professional weightlifters are all set to receive monthly scholarships once again as the Bangladesh Weightlifting Federation (BWF) ad-hoc committee decided to reinstate the funding after a four-year gap.
The scholarships, an accumulated minimum of Tk 1.8 lakh per month, are expected to take effect from April after the federation selects eligible weightlifters through trials in the same month.
The BWF also decided in principle to disburse the scholarships among eight male weightlifters and an equal number of female weightlifters in addition to two youths, one male and one female. Each weightlifter is expected to receive around Tk 10,000 per month, subject to the weight limits set by the federation for separate categories. They will also get Tk 1000 per each kilogram exceeding the category target.
“The federation once gave scholarships to weightlifters in a bid to keeping their performances intact round the year as well as inspiring them to improve gradually, but the BWF was forced to stop the scholarships due to financial constraints four years ago.
“Now, the new committee has decided to reinstate the scholarships to keep inspiring the weightlifters for further development. We will set up the targeted weight for each category and if the weightlifter can lift that targeted weight, he will be selected for scholarship,” said BWF vice president Mohyuddin Ahmed.
The categories for male weightlifters are: 50kg, 56kg, 62kg, 69kg, 77kg, 85kg, 94kg, 105kg and +105kg, while the female weightlifters' categories consist are: 44kg, 48kg, 53kg, 58kg, 63kg, 69kg, 75kg, 90kg and +90kg.
Ahmed added that the list of weightlifters who receive scholarships maybe revised depending on individual performance evaluations every three months.
The former BWF general secretary also informed that the federation is sending three weightlifters and two officials to Iran to participate in the International Fajr Cup, being organised by the Iran Weightlifting Federation, who will arrange for food and accommodation of the five-member Bangladesh contingent.
Naimul Islam, Baki Billah and Manoranjan Roy will compete in the 62kg, 69kg and 77kg weight categories in the Fajr Cup, which begins on March 6 featuring teams from Asia.
“Everything has been completed and we are waiting for visas. If the participants get their visas timely, they will fly out on February 22 and will have two weeks' preparation in Iran before competing,” Ahmed said. “Though we don't have any hope of winning a medal, we are happy that the weightlifters will get two weeks' training in Iran under the guidance of Iranian coaches.”
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