Simanta lifts hope
Bangladesh team's excellent performance in the recently-concluded Commonwealth Weightlifting Championship has given the game's governing body and the weightlifters hope of winning a number of medals in the upcoming South Asian (SA) Games, scheduled to be held in India early next year. Bangladesh team returned yesterday having won one gold, three silver and two bronze medals, with Mabia Akter Simanta bagging the lone gold and two silver medals. Mustain Billah won a silver medal while Zahura Akter Reshma bagged two bronze medals.
Simanta's gold-winning effort came in the 63kg youth category where she lifted 98 kilos in clean & jerk and 78 kilos in snatch. She also won two silver medals in junior and senior categories of the same weight category. Bangladesh Weightlifting Federation is hopeful that the 17-year-old weightlifter can win a gold medal in that particular event while others can chip in with a few medals in the SA Games.
“I have won the gold with my best performance. This was the first gold medal for any Bangladeshi weightlifter in this competition. I lost in the two other categories against Indian weightlifters, but gave them a fight. So I am hopeful about my SA Games' chances,” said Simanta yesterday. “I still have three months in hand and if I can try my level best, hopefully I can beat the Indian competitors.”
Bangladesh's all-time best weightlifter, Bidyut Kumar Roy, who accompanied the team as a coach for the first time since bringing an end to his illustrious career last year, sees hope of medals from the weightlifters, especially from young Simanta.
“We will definitely win gold in the SA Games. If we work hard with Simanta, we can add 5/6 kilos to what she can lift now. There will hopefully be medals from other weightlifters such as Rokeya Akter Sathi, who is doing well in the 69kg category, and last edition's gold-winner Hamidul Islam,” said Bidyut.
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