Table Tennis was top among the all events Bangladesh participated, considering the performances, when in the team men’s events they earned the qualification to play in the quarterfinal when none of the athletes could cross the first hurdle.
Inspired by Ramhim Lian and Muhtasin Ahmed Ridoy (won their matches against Fiji and Gauyana to qualify in the quarterfinal) Sonam Sultana Soma, Sadia Rahman Mou and Sabbir Ahmed won the respective single matches in the preliminary round on Wednesday.
Sabbir Ahmed defeated his Maldives opponent, Soma defeated Solomon Island and Mou defeated her Vanuatu opponent to step up in the next round. Though all of them, both man and women failed to move further after suffering defeats in their round 2 matches but winning the first round matches were impressive for them, ahead to Islamic Solidarity Games to start from August 10 after the Commonwealth Games in Turkey.
Sabbir went down to Gauyana, Mou suffered defeat to a world ranked player Nigerian opponent when Soma was very much unfortunate failing to play her second round match against Canada due to injury problem.
Soma, who had good chance to win match against Canada, could not play as she had a back injury and almost decided not to play the doubles and the mixed double against the same opponents (to be held today (Thursday).
Soma played her first single match with a minor pain against Solomon Island, had further injury and could not play the next match against Canada. Soma, after her match, said, “I am very happy having good result, we had long period practice before came here and also after reaching in Birmingham we had enough opportunity for practice and had expectation of doing good result and won the first match. I also expected to win the next match but bad luck.
As per I know about my opponents of Canada, there was fifty-fifty chances for me, after winning first match I had some confidence, as I was hopeful to win the match to go at least among the best 13 or 12th. But it is unfortunate and I am really upset failing to play the match for back pain.”
“We have double and mixed doubles game today (Thursday), but I am not enough fit to play today’s matches, doctors advised me to take rest. We have Islamic Solidarity Games from 10 of this month and have good chance win gold in the in Turkey. SO it will not wise to take risk today.”
“Officials have been supporting and encouraging us much, we have a coach with us but we have only one doctor, if we look to other teams, they have doctor for women teams also and it would be better if we have one women physio,” Soma.
Overwhelmed vice-president of the Bangladesh Table Tennis Federation (BTF), Hassan Munir, after the team’s result, said, “I could not think, I am very much happy and proud of the boys and girls, boys qualified in the quarterfinal, both girls and boys played their first match and did very impressive result. Now we need two high quality coaches and four practice partners. We can promise and ensure you that we will win medal in the 2026 Commonwealth Games.”
