Bangladesh had the best time in the opening day of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games when the table tennis team moved into the quarterfinal after winning two group matches in a row, and was set to play the group last match against host England Saturday.
Meanwhile, there were mixed experiences for Bangladesh on the opening day on Friday of the athletics of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games when apart from the table tennis team event, gymnast Ali Kader after illustrating hopes in his event, could not cross the group stage to compete in the last eight. But boxer Shura Krishna Chakma, and swimmers were disappointed in their events on Friday.
Held at the Gymnastic podium at Birmingham Arena, Ali Kader did well to stand second in the preliminary (group 1) stage scoring 13.375 points in vaulting table when chance left for him at least to move into the top eight, in the medal winning contest, but finally he failed to go ahead more.
Men’s table tennis team did very impressive result when they outclassed Fiji when Ramhim Liyan, Mufradul Hamza, Muhtasim Ahmed Rhidoy and Refat Sabbir had straight 3-0 set win and defeated Guyana after a closely contest match by 3-2 set to book their place in the quarterfinal.
Kader could not generate any contest against the world class gymnasts of Group 2 and 3 from Canada and New Zealand, who displayed their artistic shows to make a huge gap for Bangladeshi competitors.
Another disappointing day was for the swimmers on Friday when in the men’s butterfly event Mahmudun Nabi Nahid finished on eight out of eight in the heats in his lane when he took 26.25 seconds to be 54th of as many swimmers who took part in the heats of this event.
Morium Akther, the fellow swimmer (women swimmer) of Nahid, just followed him when she finished the heats on 30th out of 34 swimmers who participated in the 50 meters breast-stroke. Morium took 37.90 seconds.
“It is tough to compete at the top level with limited resources,” said Coach of the team Habibur Rahman Zamil.
Talking to Bangladesh Post on Friday following Ali Kader’s event, he highlighted the facilities, and lack of an individual training space for the gymnasts.
Zamil said, “We are happy with Ali Kader’s performance. He really did well, whatever, he could not move forward in the last eight. But at this stage it’s more than tough to cross the first hurdle.”
“You know, it’s difficult for us to compete at this top level, to be honest and it is a reality that we are far behind the countries that win or qualify for the medal.”
“If we compare the facilities we have, with those countries, it is just hard to imagine how they prepare themselves, most of the gymnasts even have their personal equipment and trainer and doctor also. But it is in fact not possible for any of our gymnasts when still now we are looking for an individual space for the Gymnastics.
However, we have some expectations with Kader after his silver medal win in Singapore, here also he did not disappoint us doing well,” said Zamil.
But the disappointing news came from the boxing ring when Shura Krishna Chakma, who also had prospects to do something well, could not participate due to high blood pressure.
Team official Mohammed Masud told the media that they were optimistic about Shura Krishna – Recently, his performances were very good and selected, but it is very much unfortunate he could not enter into the ring as he was unfit in the medical test, as his blood pressure was high.”
Team’s doctor Shafiqur Rahman informed the reporters that it was a very much unfortunate episode, as they were very much optimistic with Shura Krishna, but he could not even enter into the ring.
“It’s bad luck, in the morning, in a routine medical test, his high blood pressure was found high. After having rested for 15/20 minutes he again tested high pressure and was not permitted to take part in the competition, team’s Doctor, Shafique said.
“After an hour his pressure was found to be normal, but it was too late, as in accordance with the rule,” the doctor revealed.
Shura Krishna claimed that he found no high pressure when tested after taking breakfast – “In the morning there was no problem, pressure was normal, I was okay but the doctors tested me twice and got pressure high and did not permit me to enter into the ring. But after an hour I became normal, but it was too late and they did not allow me to perform.”
“It’s very much disappointing for me to fail to take part in the competition, I did not think I would have to watch the competition from the gallery. It’s nothing but misfortune.”
Shura Krishna claimed that he did not get nervous – “No I was not nervous, there was nothing to be scared, maybe it happened as last night I had no sound sleep.”
