Shooter Baki to participate in Tokyo Olympics

Two times commonwealth silver medallist shooter Abdullah Hel Baki has been awarded the tri-party nation card for participation in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics to be held in July-August in Japan.

Baki is the third Bangladeshi athlete to get indirect entry to the Tokyo Olympics. Swimmer Junayna Ahmed and sprinter Zahir Rayhan are the two other Bangladeshi athletes who were awarded indirect entry to the event.

Meanwhile, archer Ruman Sana is still the lone athlete to be taking part in the event directly as he qualified for the Tokyo Olympics by reaching the recurve individual semifinals during the World Archery Championships in the Netherlands two years ago. 

"We have been informed about Baki's entry yesterday [Thursday] and we informed the federation today [Friday]," said Bangladesh Olympic Association (BOA) secretary-general Syed Shahed Reza informing that they are also trying to get a few more wild cards in shooting, archery, athletics and swimming. 

Meanwhile, a total of four shooters have been training for more than two years under the scholarships of the International Olympic Committee. 

"I am really happy to get the opportunity to take part in the Olympics for the second successive time," said Baki, who plays in a 10m air rifle event.

"I don't want to dream big in the Olympics, rather I will be trying to transfer my training performance into the main competition. If I can do it by scoring 627 to 629, then I will have a chance to play the finals," said the former BKSP shooter.