Sana scoops top award

Archer Ruman Sana was yesterday recognised as the Sportsperson of the Year by the Bangladesh Sports Press Association (BSPA), who awarded sportspersons in different disciplines, organisers, coaches and sponsors for their performance and contribution to country’s sports in 2019.

Archer Sana, cricketer Shakib Al Hasan and footballer Jamal Bhuiyan were initially selected for marquee award, and out of those three, Sana, who bagged three gold medals in the recent South Asian Games after having become the country’s first archer to qualify directly for the Olympic Games, was named as the winner in the Kool-BSPA Award Sports Award at a city hotel yesterday in line with the decision of the jury board.

The 24-year-old archer from Khulna not only bagged the sportsperson of the year award, but also won the Popular Choice Award based on highest number votes cast by viewers online.

Other athletes of the year are: Shakib (cricket), Jamal (football), Mabia Akter Simanta (weightlifting), Humaira Akter Antara (karate), Fatema Mujib (fencing), Ety Khatun (emerging archer), Dipu Chakma (taekwondo).

Archery coach Martin Frederick and Bangladesh Archery Federation’s general secretary Kazi Rajib Uddin Ahmed Chapal were named as best coach and best organiser respectively while City Group was named as best sponsors of the year.

BSPA also honoured athletics coaches Rafique Ullah Akhter Milon and Tajul Islam and Kabaddi coach Abdul Jalil at the occasion graced by Square Toiletries’ managing director Anjan Chowdhury Pintu and AIPS, Asia president Sattam Al Sehal.