Medal hopes may train in China

Bangladesh Olympic Association (BOA) is contemplating to send the country's gold medal prospects for the coming South Asian Games, formerly known as SAF Games, to China for higher training.

The tenth edition of the biennial event will be held in Colombo in August next year with all seven SAARC nations and Afghanistan taking part in 19 disciplines including three new inclusions -- archery, cycling and ushu.

BOA's acting secretary general Kutubuddin Ahmed told reporters yesterday after a meeting with the top brass of different federations that the BOA had asked the federations to prepare the budget for preparation.

"We have asked them to find out their problems and what they need to prepare for the big event. Most of them emphasised on long-term training facilities and urged for foreign coaches," Kutubuddin said.

"We had thought about that beforehand and there is a possibility that our top athletes, who have gold medal hopes, will be trained in China. We will sit again in two months to discuss the issues," he said.

He added that Sports Minister Fazlur Rahman and BOA president Lt Gen Hassan Mashhud Chowdhury, the Chief of Army Staff, were expected to meet the Chinese Ambassador soon to discuss about it.

Bangladesh will also take part in the Islamic Solidarity Games in Saudi Arabia next April and Kutubuddin informed that the athletes who would participate in that Games, would have top priority for training in China.

It was also learnt that some federations that were ignored during the 9th SAF Games in Islamabad earlier this year, have requested the BOA to consider their inclusion for the Colombo Games.

The acting secretary general also said the BOA has requested the government to allocate a piece of land behind the NSC Woodenfloor Gymnasium at the Outer Stadium to construct its own building.

"The IOC, OAC and the BOA will finance this project to be built on a ten katha land. Although the government has yet to give its decision, we are hopeful to get it and start the works by the end of February," Kutubuddin told.