Shooters earned Bangladesh most success in the South Asian Games despite the discipline being included in the region’s biggest multi-sports event during its fifth edition in 1991. Since then, they won gold in every edition, except 2006, bagging 22 gold medals but less than one-third of them were achieved during the high time of Bangladesh shooting in the 1990s. Despite India moving far ahead of their neighbors in the last two decades, Bangladesh managed three golds in Dhaka 2010, and one in Shillong and Guwahati 2016.
This time it would be more difficult to retain the gold. The 20 shooters who will be flying for Kathmandu Wednesday set their initial target to reach the final round and hope to achieve just about anything afterwards. The country’s most successful shooter at the SA Games, Saiful Alam Rinky, who will be guiding the team as rifle coach, replied to some quick questions Tuesday before the departure.
Commonwealth Games silver medalists Abdullah Hel Baki and Shakil Ahmed each received Tk5 lakhs for their brilliant performance in Gold Coast, Australia last monthhttps://t.co/r5RTM4Cjpl#SHAKIL #BAKI #ABDULLAHHELBAKI #SHAKILAHMED #AHMED #ABDULLAH #HEL #SHOOTING #BSSF #BANGLADESH
— Dhaka Tribune Sports (@Sport_DT) May 6, 2018
You won five golds in 1991 and 1993, which is higher than anyone in the game. Shooters have not won much gold in recent times, like they did in the 1990s. What is the reason?
The difference is that we couldn’t move forward since then while India advanced far ahead of us. Among other countries, Pakistan has also been doing well earning direct quota places for Olympics (2020 Tokyo). Other countries are still behind us.
You know the capability of the current shooters well, what will be your expectations from them in Nepal?
As I said before India is far ahead of us and the game also reached a new level. Our main opponent are India and we still don’t know who are the shooters they will be sending in Nepal. I expect from our shooters to reach the final round (top eight) in each of the eight events we will participate in, and anything can happen if you shoot well there.
Who are the shooters you expect most from?
Baki (Abdullah Hel) did well but Shakil (Ahmed) performed better in both of his events, especially in the 50m pistol where he won gold in 2016. It’s bad for us that the event is not included in the next SA Games. I’m hopeful he will play in the final round of 10m pistol and he has good temperament in the final. He can do anything. Baki also improved his score which is around 624-625.
Shakil Ahmed and Sharmin Akhter Ratna emerged as the champions in the air pistol event of the ninth edition of the National Airgun Championship.https://t.co/pqZAlTCb0q#SHAKILAHMED #SHAKIL #AHMED #SHARMINAKHTERRATNA #RATNA #SHARMIN #AKHTER #SHOOTING #BSF #BANGLADESHSHOOTING
— Dhaka Tribune Sports (@Sport_DT) May 3, 2019
Did you play in Nepal? Will the condition of Kathmandu have any effect on the shooters?
I played the 1999 SA Games in Nepal which was my last participation in the competition. I didn’t win gold but bagged three silvers. The temperature of Nepal is fine now but if there is wind it wouldn’t be good for us because the 25m and 50m events will be held in outdoor.
Have you coached the shooters for SA Games before?
Many don’t know I trained Shakil before in the 2016 SA Games when he was in BKSP (Shakil later won Bangladesh’s only gold in shooting in 50m air pistol event which is not included for the upcoming Games.
Any target you set for the players this time?
No, no specific target. I just want them to perform to their best, the way they did in the recent times.
