Sprinters' dreams come true

After being given wild card entries into the Rio Olympics by the International Olympic Council, Bangladesh's fastest man and woman, Mezbah Ahmed and Shirin Akter are ecstatic about the opportunity to represent Bangladesh.

With the inclusion of Mezbah and Shirin, the number of athletes for the Bangladesh contingent heading to the world's greatest sporting event, which is to be held in Rio de Janeiro on August 5, has increased to seven.

Shooter Abdullah Hel Baki, archer Shaymoli Roy, swimmers Mahfizur Rahman Sagor and Sonia Akter Tumpa had earlier received wild cards while golfer Siddikur Rahman qualified directly.

With their dreams of representing the nation in the Olympics coming true, both Mezbah and Shirin have set their sights on improving their personal records.

“I was tensed thinking of not getting the opportunity to run in the Olympics despite being the country's fastest man for four times. Now I feel good as i got the opportunity to run in the biggest stage,” Mezbah told reporters at the Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday.

“I want to break my previous best in the Olympics. I timed 10.72 seconds in the South Asian Games in India earlier this year. If I can produce 10.70 seconds in Rio, it will be an improvement,” said Mezbah, who believes Bangladeshi sprinters need more facilities to close the gap with world-class counterparts.

Shirin had not given up hopes of getting the wild card despite the official dateline being over a few days earlier.

“When I came into athletics, there was this dream of taking part in top-level games like Olympics. Finally, I am going to participate in the Olympics,” Shirin said.

“At one stage, it seemed that the chance was over, but I never gave up hope. And when the dream came true yesterday [Monday], that is when I learnt about getting the wild card, I had sleepless night after that.”

Like Mezbah, Shirin also wants to improve on her previous best timing. Shirin's best clocks in at 11.99 seconds in the SA Games in India.