<i>In an inspiring league </i>
The journey that brought him from Madaripur to the Kurmitola Golf Club where he turned himself from a ball boy to a champion golfer is inspirational enough for everyone who dares to dream in this country.
But Siddiqur Rahman dared to dream big and his aspirations now have him placed among the select-few sportsmen whose journey from humble beginnings inspire as much as their talent. He can be spoken of in the same breath as American Francis Ouimet, South African Papwa Sewgolum and even superstar Tigers Woods as these men too have defied unbelievable odds and championed a sport as thorough as golf.
The 26-year-old Siddiqur took his game to the Indian circuit in 2006 and earned a place in the top five over the years, he began to take strides in the Asian Tour too. The Brunei Open triumph is certainly a flash point in his professional career. Ouimet, Sewgolum and even Woods broke through barriers when they won their first pro tournament.
In the early 20th century, Ouimet grew up poor which was hardly the position of any American golfer at the time but he went on to win the 1913 US Open. Sewgolum, a man of ethnic Indian origin, caused a major stir in the 1960s with his Natal Open win over Gary Player. He was forced to receive his trophy outdoors in the rain, because, due to apartheid, he was not allowed to enter the clubhouse and duly, the picture made him a symbol of the sports boycott movement.
In modern times, Woods has inspired millions of black Americans with his magical talent and accomplishments that rank him among the most successful golfers of all time.
One is also tempted to compare him with professionals from neighbouring India -- Arjun Atwal, Jyoti Randhwa and Jeev Milka Singh -- but all three were brought up in affluent settings with the latter being the son of famous athlete Milkha Singh.
But golf is a major sport in the United States and South Africa for a long time and in India, it is an emerging sport. It is especially popular sport among the wealthier classes and has not yet caught on with middle class and poor people due to the fact that it is expensive.
This makes Siddiqur's success even more noticeable as golf's popularity in Bangladesh is peanuts compared to cricket and football and for someone to get into the professional level and win a tournament certainly makes him the face of golf in Bangladesh.
Siddiqur can certainly look up to the Indian them to get into the European tour as well as the US PGA Tour, something he has set his eyes on since 2008, something that he termed previously as 'not impossible'.
The country certainly hopes he can go as far and wide as he wants to and keep inspiring anyone who dares to take their 'game' to the next level.
Comments