1st contingent leaves today

The first segment of the Bangladesh contingent will leave here today to take part in the 12th South Asian Games to be held jointly by Guwahati and Shillong from February 5 to 16.

Some 160 athletes and officials from disciplines such as of archery, cycling, volleyball, wushu, squash, swimming, table tennis, badminton, and women's football will fly out to Guwahati in the morning by a charted flight of Bangladesh Airlines.

However, another 25-member wrestling squad will reach Guwahati via Kolkata.

After landing in Guwahati, the athletes from archery, wushu, table tennis, badminton and women's football will travel by road to Shillong, where six disciplines plus women's football will be held.

Of the 521-member mega Bangladesh contingent, the athletes and officials will leave here phase by phase and the second segment will fly out tomorrow while the rest of the members will leave on February 8.