Baki gets wild card for Rio

The International Olympic Committee yesterday granted a 'wild card' for shooter Abdullah Hel Baki for the upcoming Olympic Games to be held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil from August 5 to 21.

Though Baki hoped of taking part in the Olympics through qualification rounds, he failed to qualify through any of the tournaments he participated. However, he will now be able to represent Bangladesh in the Greatest Show on Earth through the wild card, which is given to potential athletes of member associations of the IOC to ensure participation of all countries.

Bangladesh Shooting Sports Federation had requested for two wild cards including one for Baki and another for Shuvon Chowdhury. Baki had won a silver medal in the 10m air rifle event in Glasgow Commonwealth Games in 2014.

Apart from shooting, Bangladesh Olympic Association had requested wild cards in archery, weightlifting and boxing but the confirmation for those three disciplines have not come yet.