Zahir given wild card

Bangladesh Athletics Federation has nominated to send Zahir Rayhan to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics as a wild card entry.

The BAF chose Zahir, the 400m champion, over two other sprinters – men's current 100m champion Mohammad Ismail and women's current 100m champion Shirin Akter.

Zahir, a national record holder in 400m who had moved into the semifinals of World Junior Athletics in 2017, had skipped the recent Bangabandhu 9th Bangladesh Games due to contacting coronavirus.

Zahir's selection has created some controversy as many feel the selection was not done based on merit, pointing finger at the federation's general secretary Abdur Rakib Montu.

Ismail was surprised at missing out on the chance to represent the country in the global event, scheduled to take place in Tokyo from July 23 to August 7.

"This is a very bad decision he (Montu) took selecting an athlete who did not participate in the Bangabandhu Bangladesh Games. This is frustrating," Ismail told The Daily Star.

Selection committee's convenor Farukul Islam, a vice-president of the federation, said he did not have any hand in selecting the said athlete.

Despite repeated calls, Montu could not be reached for a comment.