Christensen leaves

Klavs Christensen has left his job as the rifle coach of Bangladesh team after the Bangladesh Shooting Sports Federation (BSSF) failed to renew his contract due to a lack of funds and shortage of ammunition.

The Dane, who signed a four-year deal in December 2016 as part of BSSF's ambitious 'vision 2020' targeting a medal in the Tokyo Olympics, returned to Denmark from Argentina after the Youth Olympic Games, which ended on October 18. The 57-year-old coach guided Arnab Sharar Ladif and Amira Hamid in the Buenos Aires games.

“Though we had signed a four-year deal with Christensen, there was no way for us to renew the contract after the Youth Olympic Games due to a fund constraint and shortage of ammunition. He is, however, ready to return once we manage funds and collect ammunition for training,” BSSF's chief operating officer Mustaque Waiz said yesterday.

Christensen, who guided Abdullah Hel Baki to silver medal in the Commonwealth Games and Arnab Sharar to qualifying for the Youth Olympics through winning silver in 10th Asian Air Gun Championships, was given 300 euros per day as salary from the Tk 2 crore fund allocated by the Finance Ministry. Pistol coach Marko Sokic, meanwhile, left Bangladesh after the team's poor performance in the Commonwealth Games this year.