Women gymnasts shine

Uzbekistan gymnast Asal Saparbaera is all grace as she puts in a winning performance in the individual all-around event of the Sultana Kamal 4th Central South Asian Artistic Gymnastics Championships at the Suhrawardi Indoor Stadium in Mirpur yesterday. Photo: Amran Hossain

Although there was not much expectation from Bangladesh women's gymnastics team in the Sultana Kamal 4th Central South Asian Artistic Gymnastics Championships, they shone in the competition to win the silver medal on Wednesday at the Shaheed Suhrawardi Indoor Stadium.
The Bangladesh women's team, comprising Sathi Akther, Farzana Akhter, Anita Akhter and Musfiqa Akhter, were far away from the gold winners India but they fought neck-and-neck with Sri Lanka and gave Bangladesh their first silver medal at the international level after Amir Ali's lone bronze, which came in 1995.
Quazi Syque Caesar also shone on the second day of the three-day competition yesterday but he could not outshine the women's team's success as the US-born Bangladeshi gymnast had to be content with a bronze medal in the Individual All Around Competition with a score of 82.65 points.
Indian Ashish Kumar won the gold medal with a score of 83.70 while Uzbek gymnast Daulet Narmetov scored 83.20 to win the silver medal.
“Syque had a good opportunity to win the gold but he could not perform well in the Pommel Horse which hurt his chances,” said Bangladesh Gymnastic Federation general secretary Ahmedur Rahman.
Syque will take part in his favourite Parallel Bar event today and the 21-year old gymnast expects a gold medal from the event.
Bangladesh had a bronze-medal hope in the men's team championship but they disappointed with their miserable performance on the opening day, instead leaving it to the women's team to light up the indoor gymnasium with their success.
On way to winning the silver medal, the Bangladesh side made 98.45 points, just .05 more than Sri Lanka who had to be content with the bronze.
India won the gold medal with a score of 147.90 points. Favourites Uzbekistan faltered because the scores of their two women gymnasts could not match thos of the three gymnasts participating for the other teams.
Uzbekistan however enjoyed better times in the women's All Around event with Asal Saparbaeva winning the gold medal with a score of 53.25 points followed by Indian Dipa Karmakar who made 51.40 points to win the silver medal.
Dipa's teammate Meenakshi finished third with a score of 46.70 points.