Sharmin returns to squad

Shooter Sharmin Akhter, a 2004 SA Games gold medallist, has returned to the national fold after a long time while another prospect Sadia Sultana was dropped from the 10m air- rifle team event for this month's 16th Asian Games in China.
Sharmin came to the limelight after winning the individual 10m air-rifle gold in Islamabad SA Games in 2004 but was a shadow of herself in the next Games in Colombo two years later. It has been a downward spiral for her career since, so much so that she failed to secure place in the SA Games squad at home and also missed the Commonwealth Shooting Championships and Commonwealth Games earlier this year.
But, the former BKSP student found her feet in the trials for selection of the Asian Games where she finished behind leader Sharmin Akhter Ratna and Tripti Dutta for a third place finish.
"Tripti has been given room to fight along with Sharmin and Ratna in team's 10m air-rifle event as she scored one more than Sadia," said Bangladesh Shooting Federation's general secretary Istiaque Ahmed yesterday.
After the pair of Ratna (394 scores) and Sadia (390 scores) failed to win any medals in the 10m air-rifle event of the Commonwealth Games in India last month, the shooting federation officials had said that Sadia suffers from nerves on big occasions but had to include her in the pair event after Tripti was disallowed for the event.
Sadia (495.1) however showed signs of progress in the individual event finishing sixth where she put her more renowned teammate Sharmin Akhter Ranta (494.7) behind in the eight-shooter final.
Istiaque ruled out that there was any sentimental issues involved and claimed that only performance in three trials have been taken into consideration while forming the team.
He however said Sadia would travel with the shooting squad and take part in individual event though her performance in the Games would only be considered for her progress in world ranking, not for medal.
A total of 14 shooters will take part in nine events in the Asian Games, scheduled for November 12 to 27 in Guangzhou, China.
"To be fair, we do not have any hope of winning medals in the Games, but we are expecting that the shooters will show improved performances to improve their rankings at the world level," said the BSF general secretary.

SQUAD:
Asif Hossain Khan, Abdullah Hel Baki, Shahriar Chandan, Ramjan Ali, Nadimul Islam, Iqbal Hossain, Sharmin Akhter Ratna, Sharmin Akhter, Tripti Dutta, Sadia Sultana, Sabrina Sultana, Sharmin Shila, Armin Asha and Rony.